jokin
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Everything posted by jokin
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I think the Twins have said all they need to say regarding this particular subject by their specific actions here, by what they did with him last year, and by holding him back until mid-May this year. If we recall, his call-up this year was a bit of a reluctant one based on specific immediate need- they actually valued a healthy Schafer more up to that point.
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Absolutely it does. And they have every right to feel exasperated, after already finding themselves shorthanded when Torii Hunter decided to start serving his suspenson, and then just a few minutes before gametime, Hicks suddenly decided his elbow was too sore to play? Yet another strange twist in the 3 year Aaron Hicks saga.
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And the saga of Aaron Hicks takes one more strange turn. How many non-pitchers discover they have crippling elbow soreness that requires an immediate trip to the DL, just one half hour before game time? What with Hunter just previously to that, announcing that he was taking his suspension immediately, I would think that the Twins braintrust was more than a bit flummoxed. Wally Pipp indeed.
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Setting Expectations For Byron Buxton's First Game
jokin replied to dwade's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
E-Town numbers were pretty ordinary, but he's been pretty extraordinary ever since, when he was fully healthy and in the case of 2015, after he'd completely shaken off the rust. Immediate Superstar at A ball, here's his first month: .383/.504/.681/(1.185) OPS+ 225 He had a "slow" start in his first month in A+ ball, showing "only" an .809 OPS and OPS+ of 129, but he really came on from that point, here's his full first 2 months line at Ft Myers (in the toughest MiLB for hitters): .337/.427/.493/(.919) OPS+ 164 It's hard to hold 2014 against him or to use it as a gauge for his adjustment period to a new level, he never was really healthy again after sustaining his first wrist injury in ST, and of course, his season went completely off the cliff, injury-wise, from there. All that being said, I would look for the majority of his early hits starting out his career to be of the infield hit variety. The good news is that his career high in LD% has been this year, but the bad news is his contact numbers haven't been all that great overall. But... the contact #s and his BB% have taken a big spike upwards, like his other averages, over the last month. Long story short, I look for Buck's first hit to be deep in the hole at SS. And maybe a walk, plus a SB and run scored. -
Hicks is hitting the ball harder of late, but trending down in terms of production. Some of this downtrend appears to be BABIP related. But that's a very bad SLG in either month. Hicks May #s: PA 61 Slash .259/.295/.328/(.623) LD 26.1% OPS+ 76 Hicks June #s: PA 38 Slash .229/.289/.257/(.597) LD 32.1% OPS+ 58 But he's really a completely different hitter this season, and not much yet to show for his change in approach, his Contact #s are actually DOWN. Note his main attribute last year was OBP, plus MLB's most patient and passive batter... that's completely fallen off the cliff in 2015. Hicks 2014: .215/.341/.274/(.615) P/PA 4.25 Cont 80.9% ZCon 90.4% Whiff 7.2% OPS+ 76 Hicks 2015: .247/.293/.301/(.594) P/PA 3.59 Cont 80.1% ZCon 80.1% Whiff 9.3% OPS+ 67
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Saturday really can't be judged as meaning anything going forward- 30 minutes to game time they lost 2 starting OFers.... and least of all, Nunez becoming the new regular SS seems the least likely scenario. I would think Escobar is going to get regular reps for at least a month after this OF thing shakes out and settles down. Crazy stuff like what happened Saturday sure shows why you keep guys like Escobar and Nunez around for at least the time being.
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Sano could end up in 3RD, RF or 1ST. He's going to have to force himself into one of those positions, or share DH duties plus one of those positions. There is still an ongoing gaping hole in the Twins lineup for power production going forward. Vargas, Arcia and Walker are still big to huge IFs. With that in mind, the only possible way they should consider trading an 80 power potential prospect in Sano at this point is for an Ace pitcher with some years of team control.
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Escobar won't be 5th OF if he he's playing full time at SS.
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And Twins are appealing that ruling.
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Lots of words left to be eaten in this post.
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Great suggestion. Molitor dissuaded the writers from assuming that Buxton is automatically going to be around for long, let alone that he was ready to put him at the top of the order. And defended Dozier in the leadoff spot, as well. Moltior said he'd sleep on it before making a decision in the morning. He very well might ease Buton in tomorrow at the bottom of the order. Regardless, it's definitely time for a changing of the guard atop the order, although IMO, it might be best in considering moving Mauer even lower than 5th,. I could see where the Twins could eventually convince themselves that R-L-R at the top of the order could help Mauer save face, and still make a little sense in terms of PR and baseball logic in having Mauer, rather than a rookie, "protecting" Buxton at the top of the order.
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MINNESOTA TWINS PROMOTE BYRON BUXTON!
jokin replied to John Bonnes's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
Much like with Santana last year, a bizarre set of circumstances forced this move (prematurely in the Twins' eyes)..... But I'll take it any way it can get Buck here.... now let's see what it's gonna take to get Sano next Meanwhile, still only a two man bench tomorrow, if Hicks goes to the DL and Hunter back, still only a 3 man bench for 2 games in St Louis. -
I'm vehemently against scapegoating. If it was just one bad play, I wouldn't have expressed that sentiment. Hicks has demonstrated over and over that he is who he is- a 4th OF. The Buxton move is perhaps the easiest move to upgrade the team. Sorting out the pen is going to take some sorting time.
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Yes, but both teams aren't fans of expiring contracts that aren't pulling contract weight. I honestly don't know what they'd take in trade off of the Twins that would help them, other than clearing those contracts off the books- perhaps to use the funds in another trade?
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They all were/(have been/will be- glaring problems- all requiring similar solutions: :shoot: :fenforcer: :s-instagib:
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Yep. That one hurt last night. As hard as some of us have (justifiably) been on him, still felt bad for the kid, it must have been spirit-crushing. It certainly opened the door a little wider for the Twins FO to place the call for Buxton.
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LOL. Agree on most of your points. And Buck definitely needs to move, he's champing at the bit right now- reaching base 3 more times last night- I'm just more confident that Buxton can handle the jump from AA far better than Hicks. But certainly, a cup of coffee in AAA wouldn't hurt.
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I have concerns about any hitter from Colorado. Here's a good example why: Blackmon home OPS: .850 Blackmon away OPS: .656
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You violated one of TD's "unwritten rules" (here revealed in print for the first time)- "Thou shalt never mention any past or future HOF caliber player in the same post as any Twins prospect, despite in no way implying that said player is the next <insert HOFer here>, and also as well- no mention can be made- no matter how logical the context one might use to make said comparison for purposes of promoting the MLB-rated Twins #2 best farm system, and from among which, the best available talent to rapidly advance to the major league lineup/roster over the current veteran litany of castoffs, retreads, less-abled, as well as, the group of never-weres or never-will-bes."
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Reusse rarely gets early scoops, but he's riding that pony for at least the last 13 days. Let's see if he finally gets one right.
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You would give up far less in terms of $$$ and prospects to get Weiters and Ian Desmond, as rentals.
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Since 2013, Hicks has always been a transitional bridge player to Buxton. His future likely lies as a 4th OF, as his hit tool, although improved over 2013-14, is still only around hitting with an OPS+ 72- and this in his third attempt at the big leagues. Contrast that with Rule 5 pick, Delino DeShields Jr, who is making the jump from AA to the majors and has an OPS+ of 106. Buxton is a better prospect than DeShields, and ZiPS projects him to hit OPS+ 95.
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It isn't $46M, it's $69M. This team is transforming itself right around him. Hard to imagine how he could stay in the exact same role through Oct 1, 2018.
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And to add to the absurdity: Jon Morosi @jonmorosi 22h22 hours ago USA Baseball wants @Twins top prospect Byron Buxton for Pan-Am Games roster if he's not called up by July, source says; .815 OPS at AA now.
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And given last year's string of injuries, it's doubly stupid to have Buxton playing in any in-season exhibition games.
