Twins add Buxton, Kiriloff out

[SwainZag]

Buxton is such a polarizing point of discussion around here.  If AK was taken off the roster because of injury, I believe he's injured.  For those saying....well he played yesterday.  He was also removed out of yesterday's game without the platoon advantage.  

I'd rather have Buck on the roster than Gallo, Luplow or Gordon.  If Rocco/the FO believe he can help, then so be it.  There's a good chance we don't even see him put into the game.

 

[Battle ur tail off]

36 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Call me crazy, but this is bs.

Kirilloff's shoulder was OK this whole, but today he "cant swing a bat?

D'oh-kay.

Either way, it's a plus. He was hurting us on both sides of the ball. 

[jmlease1]

54 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Call me crazy, but this is bs.

Kirilloff's shoulder was OK this whole, but today he "cant swing a bat?

D'oh-kay.

well, it hasn't been ok for some time; he's been battling an injury for a while. Maybe the cold weather is making it harder to get it loose. I'm sure he could step out on the field and play, but he's also got an injury.

Not sure how much difference it will make, other than giving people a new reason to pile on Buxton, really.

[bighat]

1 hour ago, USAFChief said:

Call me crazy, but this is bs.

Kirilloff's shoulder was OK this whole, but today he "cant swing a bat?

D'oh-kay.

We'll take it. 

Apparently an neutral, MLB-appointed doctor confirmed the shoulder problem. That said, I think any of us could say "my shoulder is sore" and that same quack would confirm that we're hurt, too. 

[bighat]

13 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

 

Not sure how much difference it will make, other than giving people a new reason to pile on Buxton, really.

Buxton has been a disappointment, to be sure. 

But right now, with the season on the line, elimination game, October against the Astros - I think all Twins fans would be cheering for Bux if he pinch hit in the 9th with a chance to win it. Why the hell not? This is what baseball is all about man. 

[Nine of twelve]

1 hour ago, stringer bell said:

Many misspell Mr. Kirilloff’s name. Even more seem stuck on how to spell Paddack. 

In Paddack's case I try to give the benefit of doubt because it could be autocorrect making the error. Sometimes I have to try really, really hard.

[Rod Carews Birthday]

Pinch hitter only.  I'm OK with that.  Just please don't start him at DH in place of EJ.  I'm not sure that Larnach wouldn't have been a better choice, but that's probably splitting hairs.

[HokieRif]

two thoughts on this one:

1) If he was hurt and getting worse then why in the heck was Kiriloff even on the roster for this series?

- or -

2) Kiriloff is "injured" and we just happen to replace him with the biggest spark plug the team has

[stringer bell]

mlbtraderumors.com is reporting that Kirilloff could no longer swing due to the ongoing shoulder injury. 
 

I don’t know if this is true or not, but Rocco did pinch hit Solano in the sixth inning vs. a RH pitcher. I thought AK took two good rips his first time up and then looked bad on an off speed pitch.  
 

This also is a continuation of a trend with Kirilloff. In ‘22, he started slowly and then said that his wrist had been bothering him all along. He went through a bad stretch just after being named Player of the Week and went on IL for his shoulder. Now, after an 0-9 postseason, he’s out from a recurrence of the shoulder injury. It could be he can’t play with a level of pain that others can power through. Maybe he doesn’t heal fast, I don’t know, but it is disappointing. 

[Nine of twelve]

10 minutes ago, stringer bell said:It could be he can’t play with a level of pain that others can power through. Maybe he doesn’t heal fast, I don’t know, but it is disappointing. 

Or it could simply be that he’s injured.

[Riverbrian]

An unexpected injury should be expected. We've all been here before.  

You never know what you need until you need it. Depth is important... it's nice to have a Solano and a Buxton lying around to fill in.  

[ashbury]

Kirill off.  Buxt on.

 

 

/ stolen from someone on Twitter, I don't know who.  I am shameless.

[Linus]

I’ve been a believer in Kiriloff but my belief is starting to waver. Scouts liked his potential at first but he has been inconsistent with the glove and is not a good outfielder. His hitting profile of gap to gap power with lots of line drives isn’t evident. He seems to have gravitated towards the three true outcomes approach and it ain’t working. Don’t know if that is being placed upon him by the hitting coaches or what. Next year is huge for Alex in my opinion. I believe it could literally make or break for him. 

[MGM4706]

Another Rocco bonehead move! Farmer should have been the Pinch hitter last night. He had homered the game before and was making good contact. Not some injured player that hadn't played for two months. Rocco was just afraid to tell Buxton No! That's part of the job Rocco!!

[stringer bell]

12 hours ago, Linus said:

I’ve been a believer in Kiriloff but my belief is starting to waver. Scouts liked his potential at first but he has been inconsistent with the glove and is not a good outfielder. His hitting profile of gap to gap power with lots of line drives isn’t evident. He seems to have gravitated towards the three true outcomes approach and it ain’t working. Don’t know if that is being placed upon him by the hitting coaches or what. Next year is huge for Alex in my opinion. I believe it could literally make or break for him. 

I don’t think AK is “three true outcomes”. He has the admirable ability to take pitches out to left, but he didn’t drive the ball to right and right-center. He still hit .270, which is above average and 11 homers would project to maybe 20 over a full season. How much of Kirilloff’s struggles are injury-related is an open question and the other question is whether he’ll get fully healthy. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Adding Buxton to the roster after Kirilloff’s injury was the wrong call. The right call would have been to add Gallo. 

As it was, Solano was left as the only player who could play first base.

Also, Rocco gave in to the temptation to put Buxton into a game before he was ready, and that was a tough spot.  I would have left Taylor in. Pinch hitting for Taylor meant the outfield defense was downgraded the next inning. Wallner would have been a better pinch hit option, or in that situation, maybe even Gallo.