Carson McCusker, Aaron Judge, and Realistic Expectations for Monster Mashers

[DocBauer]

I agree with letting him play. He's hit both RH and LH pitching in the minors, had tremendous power, we need offense, and with Buxton and Wallner both out, what do you possibly have to lose by NOT playing him for a while? 

I'd accept 30-35 K% and hit around .235-.240 with a handful of BB and watch him tee off on the balls he makes contact with.

Were I Rocco...and I realize this is simplistic to the point of being almost silly...I'd sit him down and say: "Look, you're here to play and you're going to play. You're not here to save the season. Swing at what you honestly believe to be in your zone. Lay off the high stuff best you can and don't be tempted. And despite your reach, you KNOW pitchers are going to throw stuff low and outside to you. I'd rather you K letting something low and outside nick the corner than than have you open yourself up too much. Now go and make some contact where you can and let your natural power just drive the damn ball."

I know that's ridiculous in presentation. But I'd just like to remind him he's got a bit enough zone as is, don't expand it for ML pitchers.

[gil4]

7 hours ago, Fire Dan Gladden said:

My expectations are realistic here:

1.100 OPS and MVP votes. Aaron Judge v2.0

I'll have what you're drinking

[High heat]

Well the twins do have room now and long term on the bench for McCusker.  You have Lewis and Castro back, if you get Correa back shortly Bride doesn’t offer much to the big club.  
 

A RH bat who can spell Wallner and Larnach long term and cover DH is a needed and usable spot.

[Toxteth OGrady]

Poor Richie Sexson and his 306 HRs being left out of the conversation.

[jimbo92107]

More than any other physical attribute, what I want to see from Carson McCusker is the look in his eye that says, "I am the hunter, you are the prey." 

What I saw in his first at bat was more like, "Wow, look at all those people in the stands!" "Is that a pitcher?" "Oh, shoot! I have no timing at all!" 

Hopefully, I will see something different soon. Heck, even if you have to fake it, at least go up there looking like a hungry wolf, young man. Fake it 'till you make it. 

[Riverbrian]

I believe that Buxton and Correa are eligible to return on Friday. 

We all know that he is going back to St. Paul when Buxton is activated. 

During this IL7 window. The only left hander starter scheduled was Logan Allen last night and that game was interrupted by Rain.

Ironically, after McCusker is sent down. The Royals will throw a couple lefties at the Twins over the weekend. 

The extent of his opportunity will be short. He could finish today's game with two home runs or two strikeouts or anything in between. He's going back to St. Paul regardless. 

 

 

 

 

[MGX]

I agree that is likely what will happen, but there is good reason to keep him up for an extended look & send Keirsey down. All the speculation & predictive stats can't tell us whether or not he has the ability to hit MLB pitching. The only way to know that is to let him face MLB pitching. 

[jorgenswest]

8 hours ago, Toxteth OGrady said:

Poor Richie Sexson and his 306 HRs being left out of the conversation.

Good point. I went to look at his AAA strike out numbers. In 874 plate appearances it was 17.7%. It was a different context for strikeouts in his era but that is a number that suggests he didn’t have very much swing and miss in AAA. I was hoping for otherwise.

[Squirrel]

2 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

I believe that Buxton and Correa are eligible to return on Friday. 

We all know that he is going back to St. Paul when Buxton is activated. 

During this IL7 window. The only left hander starter scheduled was Logan Allen last night and that game was interrupted by Rain.

Ironically, after McCusker is sent down. The Royals will throw a couple lefties at the Twins over the weekend. 

The extent of his opportunity will be short. He could finish today's game with two home runs or two strikeouts or anything in between. He's going back to St. Paul regardless. 

 

 

 

 

I think Wallner will be activated before Buxton. But likely the same result … McCusker optioned. Or maybe Kiersey will be. But then when Buxton is activated whoever isn’t sent down for Wallner will go down for Buxton.

[Trov]

What I got out of the article is if he can make contact and hit the ball hard he will be fine, but his ability to hit the ball at this level will be in question.  When he hits the ball it generally is hard. So see ball, hit ball, swing hard, sounds good. 

[Riverbrian]

12 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

I think Wallner will be activated before Buxton. But likely the same result … McCusker optioned. Or maybe Kiersey will be. But then when Buxton is activated whoever isn’t sent down for Wallner will go down for Buxton.

Quite possible

It's hard to know with concussions and especially with no inside information and even if I had inside information... I wouldn't be sure what to do with that info since I was sleeping in med school.  

If I were to guess... Wallner will spend at least the weekend in St. Paul tuning up especially with two left handers throwing for the Royals. Tampa follows with a parade of right handed starters.

I'm planning on going to the Twins game on Saturday and just might attend the Saints game that night. I'd like to see Wallner up close because the players are right on top of you in St. Paul.  

Anyway, if Wallner beats Buxton to the club. I think that would be bad news on the concussion front with Buxton extending past the 7 required days.   

[Squirrel]

Just now, Riverbrian said:

Anyway, if Wallner beats Buxton to the club. I think that would be bad news on the concussion front.  

Yes, it would be. Buxton’s had concussions before, so, I’m not thinking he will be back this weekend.