Twins 8, White Sox 6: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Whoa, whoa, whoa! I would argue that the ugly was behind the plate.  CB Bucknor was horrible...not necessarily biased...just horrible.  What's a strike?  What's a ball? I felt like he was flipping a coin back there.

I'm shocked that no one was thrown out.  We survived a CB Bucknor game!

CB is consistently voted as one of the worst umpires in the league.  Joe West is still at the bottom of my list, but CB could give him a run for it.

CB was bad, very bad actually.  But, on the flip side, several of his missed calls were directly the result of Suzuki going out with his glove, catching a strike and continuing to carry the ball and glove out of the strike zone.  Particularly on fastballs from Tyler Duffey. 

I never understood how much of a real thing pitch framing was until I've watched Suzuke lunging for balls in the zone and managing to get them called balls.

To suck or not to suck.  Is that the question? 

Pedro Florimon was considered an elite defensive shortstop, at least by Gardy.  Where is he now?

Buxton has the quick wrists to be able to hit in the MLB.  He just needs time to work out his mechanics some more.  He's been so bad at the plate I can't really tell how good is eye is.  If, like Sano, Buxton had some 0'fer days that included a walk, it would be a different story.  The real question here is whether that should happen while the Twins as a whole are chasing the final WC spot?

But Buxton did score on a sac fly that many guys wouldn't have even been sent on.

To suck or not to suck.  Is that the question? 

Pedro Florimon was considered an elite defensive shortstop, at least by Gardy.  Where is he now?

 

Buxton has the quick wrists to be able to hit in the MLB.  He just needs time to work out his mechanics some more.  He's been so bad at the plate I can't really tell how good is eye is.  If, like Sano, Buxton had some 0'fer days that included a walk, it would be a different story.  The real question here is whether that should happen while the Twins as a whole are chasing the final WC spot?

All relevant points.    Buxton is projected to be an offensive weapon whereas Flormon never was.   If Buxton is still batting .200 when he has as many at bats then the comparison will be more apt.    The real question is whether the Twins have better options.   I don't care to see an infielder out there unless it is Santana.    Would you rather have a non hitting elite defensive center fielder out there in Buxton or a non hitting defensive mediocrity in Hunter out there in a playoff chase.    There is rarely a convenient time for a player to struggle but some players need to do it and maybe need to do it several times before they shine.    I would stick with him.   On his days off he is still an asset as a pinch runner and a late inning defensive replacement.    In games he starts where we are behind late he can be lifted for :Vargas.    No point sending him back down now.    Maybe in a week or two he will have made us forget his bad start.   Hard to believe every scout that has ever seen him can be wrong.

CB was bad, very bad actually.  But, on the flip side, several of his missed calls were directly the result of Suzuki going out with his glove, catching a strike and continuing to carry the ball and glove out of the strike zone.  Particularly on fastballs from Tyler Duffey. 

 

I never understood how much of a real thing pitch framing was until I've watched Suzuke lunging for balls in the zone and managing to get them called balls.

Yeah, but in fairness to Kurt, Duffey wasn't throwing anywhere near where Suzuki was setting up. Tough to frame an outside pitch when you are set up on the inside.

I don't quite get the Florimon comp. I can't imagine anyone getting that.

Buxton and Florimon? 

I listened to the podcast John, and could never quite see your point.

If you or Gleeman struck out that much, we would probably bench you.

If Buxton does, we look forward to when the lessons sink in and he catches on fire. One can almost be certain that he will begin to hit.

That was Gleeman's point. He WILL hit.

Buxton is the kind of player who, when someone suggests that he is somehow like Pedro Florimon, people wonder if that person understands baseball at all...

Yeah, but in fairness to Kurt, Duffey wasn't throwing anywhere near where Suzuki was setting up. Tough to frame an outside pitch when you are set up on the inside.

I get that.  But, still, watch a catcher like Salvador Perez and see how steady and calm and smoothly he receives the ball, even if on the other side of the zone.  Umpires like quiet and reward keeping the glove still.

There is a way to receive a baseball as a catcher, and it includes how to put up a target, how much to shift your feet, how big and strong you are, how limber and coordinated, how skilled you are with hand to eye coordination.  There's a lot of things to it, and Zukey, as I understand the data shows as well, is not measuring up.

With Hicks having the year he's having and being in a WC hunt there is no reason to trot Buxton out there once Hicks returns.  He's not ready but can be a nice bench piece to pinch run and sub in defensively toward the end of a game.

I agree with NYTtwinsfan.  Hunter has been awful.   Embarrassingly so.   He also had that ball drop in front of him (close to the line), with a terrible jump and just no speed.  Who doesn't think Rosario or Hicks cannot make that play?   Hunter is a veteran, at the end of his career (at least I hope with the Twins).   Buxton is a rookie, hopefully franchise player.   If they both are going to struggle at the plate, let Buxton play and get valuable experience in a playoff race.   He might figure some things out at the plate.   I do not think playing Robinson more is the answer...

I don't care how ugly it is, beating the White Sox always makes me smile.

In my perfect world, the Yankees fall apart in September and miss the playoffs. Don't care who else makes it in with the Twins, but I think it would be hilarious if the Yankees, once again, miss the playoffs.

True. Sorta assuming Hunter breaks out of his funk soon. My personal feeling is when hunter is up I feel like there's a chance he'll get on base and eventually get back on track where with Buxton I'm just hoping he puts it in play and/or sees more than 3 pitches. But if Torii continues to scuffle, then ya, stick w/ Buxton, you're right. Definately not advocating more PT for Robinson.

Right now, the most troubling thing to me about Buck is his inability to get a bunt down.  A player with his speed should really have that in his arsenal to get him thru the times when the stick is slumping.