Pacesetters: Crazy Halfway Projections

Buxton's first stint was a 49% k rate. It is down to 33% in the second stint.

Spy,

Please stop pointing out facts like the leverage index.

It is sad enough to see the run differential, Mauer's 14 doubles, and So on. Adding in the inept decisions is just salt on a fresh wound.

Next you are going to tell us that Mauer's 14 doubles have been at the top of the order all year........

It looks like Michael Tonkin is gradually developing into a dominant relief pitcher at the mlb level. In AAA he was dominating merely by whipping his 96 mph heater and his wipe-out slider past inferior hitters, not having to worry much about making mistakes placing his heater. 

At the mlb level he faces hitters that can square up and pound almost anything that gets too close to the middle. This means Tonkin has had to develop finer command, which requires more precise mechanics. He can't fly open too soon and let his heater level out or sail anymore. MLB hitters also know how to work the count and get a non-precise pitcher into bad counts. 

Earlier in the season I too thought Tonkin wasn't going to make it, but now he has changed my mind. Around the time he took a line drive to his thigh and kept going, I thought I saw from him a new level of determination. Before, he seemed to have an aw-shucks, Mayberry look on his face. Now he looks like all business out there. I'm glad Molitor has shown patience with him; it might just pay off. 

What any player and the team is on pace for is utterly meaningless .81 games in and 4 players have played in 3/4 of the games   One of those for players is now in the minors.  Starting pitching,  Nolasco is the only pitcher to make their scheduled. Santana has missed a few.  The roster is in flux. Projections of the team are meaningless. Projection on what the players may do is subject to flux.  Your own comment on Dozier shows that.

When does Mauer say "I've made enough money, I'm going to retire before I embarrass myself anymore"?

Spring of 2019.  Concussions and pride are difficult to overcome.

Projections are always fun meaningless excursions into what-might be. Like the guys on other teams that might win 30 games this year. Ha! 

How about this: last year it took the Twins 161 games before being eliminated from the playoffs. This season, it took only one game!

We didn't add to the runs scored total today, the average is going down.

This was........not happy inducing.....

There was a mix there. Focus on the positive!

Kepler is killing it, tons of strikeouts from three young and cheap bullpen pitchers, Dozier has turned it around completely, Suzuki's option won't vest. There's some good here!

Good point......admittedly, when I typed that, I was in the middle of a bad call at work.....

Well.... there's some bad there too, to be fair.

Hope the call went okay.

I'm enjoying the games more lately, mostly because we're getting competitive and playing a better mix of players. The Hawaiian Ax Murderer -- Suzuki -- is a delight, as are Kepler, Sano, Vargas, Nunez and Dozier. The pitching shines more (in a good way). Over the last 10 games, we have our first winning record this season at 6-4. And since May 25 we're 18-21 -- not great, but certainly better.

I'm looking forward to the second half.

What any player and the team is on pace for is utterly meaningless .81 games in and 4 players have played in 3/4 of the games   One of those for players is now in the minors.  Starting pitching,  Nolasco is the only pitcher to make their scheduled. Santana has missed a few.  The roster is in flux. Projections of the team are meaningless. Projection on what the players may do is subject to flux.  Your own comment on Dozier shows that.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=C6cxNR9ML8k

"Over the last 10 games, we have our first winning record this season at 6-4. And since May 25 we're 18-21 -- not great, but certainly better." Thanks (slap to the face). I needed that.