Buxton meets with Rocco

[Battle ur tail off]

https://www.startribune.com/byron-buxton-rocco-baldelli-minnesota-twins-postseason-roster-la-velle-e-neal-iii/600308395/

 

I'm not a subscriber to the Strib, but it let me look at this article anyway. I know this has been discussed here before, but what do people think will happen here?

From how I look at it assuming Royce is healthy enough and makes it, the last roster spot is going to come down to Buxton, Gallo, or Luplow. If I am correct and it truly is those 3, I am 100% on the bring Byron with bandwagon.

I DON'T want him starting games. MAT has done a great job and to be honest, this lineup has done a great job since the AS break. But Buck as a pinch hitter, runner, possible corner OFer late, etc makes some sense. I also think it could be a bit of a jolt in the arm to the team mentally, etc. having him there 100% engaged in the dugout. 

So, I guess my take on this is: BRING BYRON WITH. 

[TopGunn#22]

Well heck, if it's Buxton or Gallo/Luplow I don't know how it CAN'T be Buxton.  But just to be even debating this as Twins fans is beyond depressing.  Buxton...or Gallo/Luplow.  

[Woof Bronzer]

If they add him, it should be solely to be a last gasp pinch hitter very late in a game against a LHP when we need a home run.  I fear that rostering him will tempt Rocco to DH him ahead of Julien, which would be a disaster.  Not to mention playing him in the field which would be malpractice.  I hope the club notices that the offense only came alive once the 2 strikeout-king black holes, Buxton and Gallo, took a seat.  The '23 team is simply better without Buxton in the lineup, sad as that is to say.  

[JD-TWINS]

I saw Falvey on MLB Hot Stove 2 days ago and he said that the Team was trying to figure out how to get Byron some At Bats at this point……this after being asked about his probability to be able to play.

Seems pinch running & outfield are not only remote but moot with where his health was at as of Wednesday morning.

I would definitely like his bat as pinch hitter or DH v. LH pitching instead of Luplow…….if he’s at a health level that promotes .208 Byron, then Luplow makes more practical sense.

[JD-TWINS]

7 minutes ago, Woof Bronzer said:

If they add him, it should be solely to be a last gasp pinch hitter very late in a game against a LHP when we need a home run.  I fear that rostering him will tempt Rocco to DH him ahead of Julien, which would be a disaster.  Not to mention playing him in the field which would be malpractice.  I hope the club notices that the offense only came alive once the 2 strikeout-king black holes, Buxton and Gallo, took a seat.  The '23 team is simply better without Buxton in the lineup, sad as that is to say.  

No way they play him in OF…….he’s a better option at DH than Julien v. LH pitching.

Gallo has about as good a chance on the roster as I do. Stevenson & Luplow both are ahead of him at this point.

[FlyingFinn]

I can't open that attachment but MLBtraderumors.com has Neal saying Lewis is likely to play DH in the wild card series. That really limits Buxton.

[Bigfork Twins Guy]

If there is room for him to be a bench player/PH, then fine.  I'd prefer that he not take away at-bats at DH from Julien, Lewis, or others who rotate through that slot.

I'm also leery about him in CF.  He has not played there all year and probably will not be full speed meaning he may be a drop-off from MAT.

I read the ST article and all comments.  Comments against Buck being on the playoff roster were 10 to 1, although I do not put a ton of weight on ST article comments, I was surprised that they were weighted that heavily towards not including him.

[Battle ur tail off]

41 minutes ago, Woof Bronzer said:

If they add him, it should be solely to be a last gasp pinch hitter very late in a game against a LHP when we need a home run.  I fear that rostering him will tempt Rocco to DH him ahead of Julien, which would be a disaster.  Not to mention playing him in the field which would be malpractice.  I hope the club notices that the offense only came alive once the 2 strikeout-king black holes, Buxton and Gallo, took a seat.  The '23 team is simply better without Buxton in the lineup, sad as that is to say.  

Agree 100%. I don't want him starting. Anywhere. Pinch hit, pinch run, late inning defensive replacement(in LF, let Kep and MAT stay).

Mostly, I want his energy. If I were Rocco I would tell him he won't start and will only be used this way but we need ALL of you in the dugout. 

[stringer bell]

If Buxton is as healthy as he can be, he offers power and straight ahead speed. It’s hard to imagine that he could be an upgrade over Julien as a DH or MAT as a center fielder at this point. Given they will have a couple of extra non-pitchers, I think he might be on the active roster. 

[Battle ur tail off]

31 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

No way they play him in OF…….he’s a better option at DH than Julien v. LH pitching.

Gallo has about as good a chance on the roster as I do. Stevenson & Luplow both are ahead of him at this point.

Isn't Stevenson a lock at this point? I would say so. From what I count, even with Stevenson, in this short series, the Twins would likely have less pitching on the roster, so this leaves open a spot that is basically between those 3(Buck, Gallo, Luplow)? Someone correct me if I am wrong here please.

[insagt1]

Buck is probably still hurt. And he might be chronically hurt which could spell an end to his career. As he is now, he has limited value. Unless he is able to take a year off (and even that doesn't seem to be able to fix all his issues) I don't think he has a career anymore. What playing MLB requires seems to be more than his body will ever allow anymore. 

Its not just one thing...its everything. To think that he will be able to hit the way he used to is folly. I'd love to be wrong about all of this, but the record shows he's too fragile to adequately perform at a level that both he and the team wants. Is Gallo a better option for that 'last spot'? Hardly. As a pinch hitter he is useless. Maybe a defensive replacement late, where no AB;s are needed. short series...you can't have a guy who strikes out as much as he does.

[mnfireman]

If the team rosters Buxton for the WC series, he would need to be used without limitations, not as a break glass in case of emergency type. Every roster spot on this team, as constructed, is too valuable to have a player sit on the bench waiting for the perfect opportunity to play him.

If the plan is to DH Lewis, then I don't feel Buxton has a spot unless he is healthy enough to play in the field. If he is healthy enough to play in the field, then he should be starting and MAT comes in late for defense (whoever thought that line would be used!!). 

Rostering Buxton in hopes of a Kirk Gibson type PH appearance doesn't make sense for the WC series but could (and maybe should) be revisited if the team advances.

[Battle ur tail off]

5 minutes ago, insagt1 said:

Buck is probably still hurt. And he might be chronically hurt which could spell an end to his career. As he is now, he has limited value. Unless he is able to take a year off (and even that doesn't seem to be able to fix all his issues) I don't think he has a career anymore. What playing MLB requires seems to be more than his body will ever allow anymore. 

Its not just thing...its everything. To think that he will be able to hit the way he used to is folly. I'd love to be wrong about all of this, but the record shows he's too fragile to adequately perform at a level that both he and the team wants. Is Gallo a better option for that 'last spot'? Hardly. As a pinch hitter he is useless. Maybe a defensive replacement late, where no AB;s are needed. short series...you can't have a guy who strikes out as much as he does.

What you say makes sense, however I am going to(for the first time around here), lobby for Buxton's heart, grit, etc. Maybe this is just him blowing smoke, but to me(my opinion only), this is the first time we've heard of, or seen the guy willing to go out there and play when he isn't 100%. 

Playoffs are funny, sometimes studs do stud things, even if their body isn't fully there. A Buxton HR late that means something or a diving catch, or stolen base etc. is the kind of thing that might propel this team to go on a run.

[FlyingFinn]

7 minutes ago, Battle ur tail off said:

Isn't Stevenson a lock at this point?

I would say yes. If Lewis plays, he may need a pinch runner as well. If Lewis doesn't play, there's another roster spot open.

[Azviking101]

If they think Buxton can play CF, he needs to be starting in CF. Don’t understand why anyone would think he’s not better than MAT.

if buxton can’t run then he shouldn’t be on the roster. He’s never been a good pinch hitter and I frankly don’t want to see him in that role. If he’s playing defense, he’s an insanely valuable hitter. If he’s not, I dont want to see him playing. Simple as that for me. 

[Riverbrian]

Lewis at DH is the bigger news. 

If Lewis is DH... Buxton utilization options narrow significantly. 

Against Bryce Miller/Logan Gilbert/Castillo/Kirby or Kevin Gausman/Jose Berrios/Chris Bassitt or Cristian Javier/JP France/Verlander 

DH - Lewis

C - Jeffers

1B - Kirilloff

2B - Julien 

3B - Polanco

SS - Correa

LF - Wallner

CF - Taylor

RF - Kepler

Vazquez

Solano

Farmer

Castro

Buxton

 

Against Framber Valdez or Ryu/Kikuchi

DH - Lewis

C - Jeffers

1B- Solano

2B - Polanco

3B - Farmer

SS - Correa

LF - Castro

CF - Taylor

RF - Kepler

Vazquez

Kirilloff

Julien

Wallner

Buxton

 

With DH unavailable... unless Buxton can play OF... He's that pinch hitter that Rocco will use so Kirilloff, Julien and Wallner don't have to face Speier, Saucedo, Cabrera or Mayza.

If he can't play in the field. He is done after his pinch AB. If Castro has to start against Valdez to keep Wallner away from left handers... Julien becomes our best pinch running option when one is needed late in the game. This takes Juliens bat out of the game when a right hander replaces Valdez. The Astros have nothing but right handers after Valdez.      

Buxton knocks Stevenson off the roster who could fill that late inning... we need someone fast to replace someone slow on the bases with the game in the balance. 

Bottom Line: Buxton in CF is needed. Otherwise... with Lewis at DH... Buxton is a guy who gets maybe a couple of AB's in the Wild Card Series.  

[IaBeanCounter]

37 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

    

Buxton knocks Stevenson off the roster who could fill that late inning... we need someone fast to replace someone slow on the bases with the game in the balance. 

Bottom Line: Buxton in CF is needed. Otherwise... with Lewis at DH... Buxton is a guy who gets maybe a couple of AB's in the Wild Card Series.  

You stated it well, with a 14 position player roster the choice is between Buxton and Stevenson.  In my heart I've always felt the Twins would find a way to put Buxton on the playoff roster.   My mind tells me it comes down to how well Buxton can run, because pinch running may create a run.  

With a 15 pp roster for the WC, both should make it.

[Riverbrian]

1 minute ago, IaBeanCounter said:

You stated it well, with a 14 position player roster the choice is between Buxton and Stevenson.  In my heart I've always felt the Twins would find a way to put Buxton on the playoff roster.   My mind tells me it comes down to how well Buxton can run, because pinch running may create a run.  

The playoff roster announcement is going to be interesting. 

[Parfigliano]

He cant play OF.  If he could we would have seen him there already.  We have not.

He cant hit.  He is a K machine.  We have all seen this and the offense did get better without him.  

Giving him a roster spot would be based on what he was year/years ago not what he is now this year.  It would be sentimentality writ large.  It would be idiotic.  The organization needs to man up and tell him he didnt make the cut.

[laloesch]

15 minutes ago, Parfigliano said:

He cant play OF.  If he could we would have seen him there already.  We have not.

He cant hit.  He is a K machine.  We have all seen this and the offense did get better without him.  

Giving him a roster spot would be based on what he was year/years ago not what he is now this year.  It would be sentimentality writ large.  It would be idiotic.  The organization needs to man up and tell him he didnt make the cut.

I'd rather not have his black hole bat in the lineup.  Add Gallo to the "no playoff list also."

[chpettit19]

Is he good Buxton or bad Buxton? That's the only question, to me. Can he legitimately play CF for an entire game? If he can he's your starter. If he can't he doesn't make the roster.

The playoffs are about ceiling, and who hits theirs most. Buxton has a higher ceiling than anyone else in the org, if he's healthy. He has a lower ceiling than anyone else on the 40-man roster if he's not healthy. So if he's healthy put him in CF and let him do his thing. If he's not let him sit in the dugout in a Twins hoodie and cheer on his boys. I don't see any in between.

[Woof Bronzer]

1 minute ago, chpettit19 said:

Is he good Buxton or bad Buxton? That's the only question, to me. Can he legitimately play CF for an entire game? If he can he's your starter. If he can't he doesn't make the roster.

Considering he has been unable to play CF for a single game at any level this year, I think the question has been answered.  

[Parfigliano]

12 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

Is he good Buxton or bad Buxton? That's the only question, to me. Can he legitimately play CF for an entire game? If he can he's your starter. If he can't he doesn't make the roster.

The playoffs are about ceiling, and who hits theirs most. Buxton has a higher ceiling than anyone else in the org, if he's healthy. He has a lower ceiling than anyone else on the 40-man roster if he's not healthy. So if he's healthy put him in CF and let him do his thing. If he's not let him sit in the dugout in a Twins hoodie and cheer on his boys. I don't see any in between.

He tried playing D in a minor league game 2-4 weeks ago.  He could not because he physically cant.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

2 hours ago, FlyingFinn said:

I can't open that attachment but MLBtraderumors.com has Neal saying Lewis is likely to play DH in the wild card series. That really limits Buxton.

Yikes. Good info and thanks for passing it along, and lukewarm-to-good news about Lewis, but wow that shoots the whole platoon split that the Twins love.

Toronto and Seattle would be sending out all righty starters. Houston and Texas have one lefty each. If they use Royce as DH and want Juliens bat in the lineup as bad as it seems they do, then we are looking at second base for Julien…

[Riverbrian]

28 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

Is he good Buxton or bad Buxton? That's the only question, to me. Can he legitimately play CF for an entire game? If he can he's your starter. If he can't he doesn't make the roster.

The playoffs are about ceiling, and who hits theirs most. Buxton has a higher ceiling than anyone else in the org, if he's healthy. He has a lower ceiling than anyone else on the 40-man roster if he's not healthy. So if he's healthy put him in CF and let him do his thing. If he's not let him sit in the dugout in a Twins hoodie and cheer on his boys. I don't see any in between.

Without Medical Reports that suggest differently. This is pretty much how I see it as well. 

OF or bust 

Even if Lewis could play 3B... Julien will need that DH spot. 

OF or bust

If he can play OF... I'm ready to roll with Buxton in the lineup.  

[Battle ur tail off]

1 hour ago, Riverbrian said:

Buxton is a guy who gets maybe a couple of AB's in the Wild Card Series.  

It only takes one my friend. 

 

30 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

Is he good Buxton or bad Buxton? That's the only question, to me. Can he legitimately play CF for an entire game? If he can he's your starter. If he can't he doesn't make the roster..

Why when you are choosing between Byron, Gallo, or Luplow? Of those 3, to me it's obvious who should come with. 

That said, I might be wrong on those being the last 3 fighting for a job.

[Battle ur tail off]

1 hour ago, IaBeanCounter said:

You stated it well, with a 14 position player roster the choice is between Buxton and Stevenson.  In my heart I've always felt the Twins would find a way to put Buxton on the playoff roster.   My mind tells me it comes down to how well Buxton can run, because pinch running may create a run.  

With a 15 pp roster for the WC, both should make it.

Hitters (12): Christian Vázquez, Ryan Jeffers, Alex Kirilloff, Donovan Solano, Edouard Julien, Carlos Correa, Jorge Polanco, Kyle Farmer, Willi Castro, Matt Wallner, Michael A. Taylor, Max Kepler

Pitchers (10): Pablo López, Sonny Gray, Joe Ryan, Kenta Maeda, Jhoan Duran, Brock Stewart, Griffin Jax, Emilio Pagán, Caleb Thielbar, Louie Varland

There you have 22. You can add 4 more. 

Lewis gets one that's 3. Kuechel or Funderbunk gets 1, that's 2, Stevenson gets 1, that's 1.

 

So I guess it is either Buxton, Luplow, Gallo, Funderbunk/Kuechel, or Paddack.

[CRF]

I really don't want Buxton, Gallo, or Luplow...but if those are the choices, obviously you take Buxton. I just don't see how he helps us at this point, unless he's 100%...and he can't possibly be. It'll be interesting what the roster will be for next week. All I want is for Royce and CC to be on it, and ok. 

[RpR]

4 hours ago, TopGunn#22 said:

Well heck, if it's Buxton or Gallo/Luplow I don't know how it CAN'T be Buxton.  But just to be even debating this as Twins fans is beyond depressing.  Buxton...or Gallo/Luplow.  

Buxton should NOT be on the team, he cannot play field and his bat is not better than Gallo's.

Gallo is a good fielder; Luplow -- crap shoot but either is better than Buxton.

[Shaitan]

Yes, if he's healthy.