ShouldaCouldaWoulda

Let's just say that I personally feel that it would be more beneficial to get 4-5 AB's/game than 3-4 AB's/game. And, that I feel getting to see a starter for 3rd or 4th time is a good thing..its not about that first at bat, but the last one vs him. Especially, considering that it gives him one more opportunity to see that particular pitchers breaking ball, and not constantly seeing a different pitcher with different stuff.

Sure, but the leadoff would be seeing that starter for one extra more at bat than the #9 batter getting a better read on him. So, not only will the #9 usually get one less at bat a game, but also a higher percentage of fresh hard throwing receivers. You have to put your top prospects and players in the best position to succeed. So, even if this sound trivial to some- it matters. Bat leadoff or #2, and let him get in a groove even if he struggles at first. having more at bats is wha this kid needs, and I think that showed in AAA. Especially considering that this is not a lineup that is going to turnover as much as other high scoring teams.

I hope that they play him every day and bat him at the top of the order to insure that he get an extra at bat a game to help him get in a rhythm and develop. I do believe this helped him in AAA and should be continued in the majors. Batting him 9th will hinder his development and have him missing the tired out starter the last time through likely.

I am quite curious if Berrios has been instructed to essentially 'pitch to contact' or is simply just feeling like there is heat to NOT walk anyone in order to make the Twins happy and get back to the majors. Seems odd that he all of a sudden didn't strike out anyone or walk anyone, and also gave up a bunch of hits. I do think he may feel like there is a certain way to pitch to make the Twins happy, and that its better to fail pitching to contact than to fail putting guys on just first by walking them.

I'm still in the feeling that this is about a devide between player and team. Ghost injuries are used all the time and this could just be to buy time and cover things up.

Buxton reminds me a little of Javier Baez. Both dominate the minors with avg and extra base hits, and struggled in the majors. Both are very athletic, have explosive quick bats, have a lot of swing and miss to their games, can take a walk but not often enough, play great defense. They just struggle with major league pitching. Cubs brought up Baez originally to fail and hope it helps change his approach, so maybe this will work better with Buxton. I think both still have incredible potential, but might never get there too. I think the most likely case is that they both will be streaky good hitters and streaky bad players in the majors.

Cheslor Cuthbert is likely going to just fill this role and have Hunter Dozier right around the corner.

I never really bought into the clubhouse leader or Hunter being a key to it last year, but I am beginning to wonder now. When you think about it, our 28+ year guys seem to be lead by example, gritty, good ole boys, and old school, and so does Molly. Whereas, Hunter is a free-spirit who loves to be sill and lose. His personality is very fitting to attract younger guys and he seems to like young guys, and has sons that age too. The current leaders don't seem to be anything like Hunter, but probably stood aside with Hunter around. I don't get the feeling that the current clubhouse is the type that will go out of their way to make others feel comfortable, but the type that would make them prove themselves first, where Hunter seems like the type of leader who just makes EVERYONE feel included from day one no matter of age or what they have 'proven.' Just a gut feeling and I could be totally wrong, but the feeling is strong.

I think as the number of prospects/young guys increases to the point to where they can have their own group, instead of having to try to be accepted by the current clubhouse gatekeepers it will be a good thing for their comfort and direction of the team. They can then just hang together and have enough numbers to have their own voice, and not have to impress or fit in with the current 28+ year-olds who think they are face of the team.

He is getting caught stealing a lot too and not successfully stealing very often. He is turning out to be the opposite of what was advertised (good D and base running and raw with the bat.) Lets hope he finds a happy medium to stick at SS or at least 2B, as I don't want a light-hitting 3B. The bat is encouraging though. Did not see that coming this year.

Yeah, I agree that the BB:K ratio, especially k% needs to be better before he comes up. This is one of those times were we probably shouldn't get overly hyped into the production, but need to look more into the process. Even his walk was intentional, not through patience/approach. It has been discussed on hear lately and by national people that Twins tools athletes tend to have great numbers in the minors through their athleticism, while not developing an approach that works at the majors. Rosario has yet to walk since he's been down. I love what Buxton is doing to the ball right now, but will this translate to the next level and how bad will that k% be in the majors this next try? Read some comments he made about being more comfortable around his AAA teammates ('family'), so those who really believe in team chemistry, leadership, and all that should maybe be pushing to just clean house at the majors and get all of these AAA prospects up at the same time and hand the keys to the "clubhouse" to THEM and send a message to the others that its their team, not aging veterans who have lost most of their careers. Just saying, and makes me wonder how these guys are being treated by team and staff in the majors. I wouldn't be surprised if they are not all that welcoming to them, which would maybe affect play/confidence some. I could see a few of the guys being jerks to them for varying ego reasons, but will keep those names quiet.

Okay, but they were in on him before he was who he is now. Would have become who he is with the Twins?

Vargas also stayed hot going 2-4 with a BB, R, and RBI.

Could not edit again for some reason, but to me the words written about Dozier in he link were and are spot on. Why does it seem like so many Twins team and individual success seasons or stretches seem to be so reliant on things that are so unsustainable, be it high BABIP's of Santana/Rosario or just-enough pull-power of Dozier?

What to do about Kennys Vargas? It is often debated on this board about how many of our prospects (or young players) are being blocked, but Vargas seems to have been forgotten lately. If you look at his overall numbers you might feel that he is doing ok, but not great. But, one must look at his recent play and more importantly his platoon splits. In the last 10 games he's hitting .395 and in the last 30 days he's hitting .305, which is pretty encouraging compared to his full season .257/365/434/799 slash line. The real interest with him is his platoon split; Vs Lefties .085/.173/.149/.322 with 1HR in 47 AB's Vs Righties .333/.442/.562/1.004 with 6 HR's in 105 AB's....oh, and 21 BB's to 27 K's. His 2015 splits in AAA are almost identical to the above. Does this guy have any way to get back to the majors with this team other than injury, or an unlikely trade of those blocking him? Park and Mauer are not going anywhere, but Vargas is still just 25 and can rake RHP, or at least get on base at a great clip. This guy should be hitting in the majors vs righties on a club with only 11 wins. Since we know we can't move Mauer to a new team or new position, who best maximize our ball-club? Trading Park's power and nice contract might be an attractive chip to other teams, especially as it appears that he can really play 1B (probably better than Mauer even.) This would likely just move Sano to DH, but if not it would bring Vargas to DH and whatever we could get for Park. Or, what could Vargas get us at this point as a 25 year DH/1B who can rake against righties (the majority split)? I personally feel the Twins should be attempting to package Park along with Plouffe, Dozier, and junk SP contracts to see what we can get in return. It won't happen though. They will be more likely to sell on Vargas and watch him blow up for another team, while Park ages, and Dozier and Plouffe block young infielders. What are your thoughts on what we should and what we will do with Vargas. Problem is if the Twins did bring up Vargas they'd throw him out there everyday vs Lefty's and sit him sporadically against righties, which would lead to his rates to look like failure, and they'd give up on him.

From a Fangraphs chat today: Brian Dozier: Am I ever going to get it together? 12:08 august fagerstrom: Was reminded of this recently: https://twitter.com/tlschwerz/status/734945397588656133

I'm starting to wonder if the shoulder thing is even really what's going on. This just seems way too weird, along with the timing and circumstances of it all. Especially with the team not really talking about it at all. It is not like it is uncommon for teams and players to keep dirty laundry hidden.

If you're a veteran starting pitcher on this team your rope is endless it seems. 1 good start= 7 freebie bad starts 1 mediocre start= 4 freebie bad starts Something like that it seems. See Mike Pelfrey, Gibson, Hughes, Milone, ......

Awe, I thought that is the current number. Thank you for that clarification. So, IS THERE any numbers then that would effect his service time then? Can anyone drudge up when calling him would effect it?

I guess my true feeling is that you either bring him up very soon if they think he's ready, and he eclipses his service time by months not weeks or days. But, the longer they wait to call him up, the less sense it makes do it before that date. Calling him up within a 2-3 weeks of that date would just seem like a really bad decision- IMO.

I will at least give him credit for not using being less than 100% as an excuse, as it would be an easy out for him to use.

I know there is threads out there on Buxton, but was hoping to have this one be (mostly, but not exclusively) about his service time and him being called back up. Not necessarily about his overall play. 172 days (not games) = 1 year of service time. Buxton is currently at 113 days. For him to NOT reach that 172 days of service time the Twins would have to wait to bring him back up during the away Rays weekend series August 5th-7th, or the following home series against the Rays beginning the 8th. Factoring in everything that has happened to the Twins and Buxton this season, I do not see if worth it to bring him before then for any reason, regardless of his AAA production before then. The Twins simply will be playing for nothing this season no matter how hot they get at any point. Keeping him down until then still gives him a full 2 months to finish out the season and play everyday (hopefully leadoff) to end this season. He has plenty to work on at the plate and base paths until then, regardless of production. His process needs to be right for a sustained amount of time, and not just rely on athleticism. There are other youngsters that could fill his role until then too with Kepler, Rosario, Santana, Arcia, and filler. They might not give us what he can, but we are not playing for anything. Bringing him any time before that time and losing the year of service to me just does not seem worth it. Yes, that will be a frustrating wait, but its also a position that both the Twins and Buxton put themselves in. If the Twins were in the hunt of Buxton was performing anything near even below average he would be up still. What is your guys thoughts on this? Bring him up as soon as he seems to have figured it out? Wait it out and bring him up for the last two months and hold his service clock down by one year? I would just like to hear the general opinion on a tough decision on this. *(I am not a service guru, so sorry if I got this wrong and please don't jump on my case.)

I am less surpassed that this was allegedly said about Perkins, but I have not heard any rumors about Hughes before.

Who has the better team in a 7 game series (only 3 or 4 starters needed) and who would win between the Twins and Rochester? Santana vs. Berrios Hughes vs. Milone Duffey vs. Meyer ---------------------- Nolasco v.s Albers

However, maybe Rochester is the right place for him with Berrios, Rosario, and Vargas being there, since he's 1/2 Puerto Rican from Momma. Yes, that is where he gets his temper, but I'll take the blame for the wild side of him. Glad I am able to find some comedy in my sons and Twins difficult times. I wouldn't quite call him a failed prospect yet;)