chpettit19

Well he just stopped a rehab assignment after 7 innings in CF that required a trip to Mayo to see new specialists to come up with an answer. So 2 months of rest got him 7 innings and a trip to one the best hospitals in the world. I'm a little surprised that a shot and an extra week means he's now ready. Yeah, its hard to judge much about Buxton in a short period of time because of the streakiness. They mostly just have to determine how healthy he is, probably.

But I think that comes back to my original question: Which Buxton are you getting? Good Buxton is a better base stealer than Stevenson. He's a better everything than Stevenson. But bad Buxton isn't. So you have to know which Buxton you're getting. Much to my surprise he's heading back to St Paul today, I believe, so maybe we'll get a chance to see what he's like and see if he's good Buxton or bad Buxton.

Starting me in CF would sell more tickets, though, so the Pohlads may like that idea. Like the "freak show" at the circus. People love to stare at oddities.

Which Buxton would you be getting back in the playoffs? Superstar, top 10 talent on the planet Buxton? Or K machine Buxton? That should be the deciding factor, but the problem is you really don't have time to figure that out unless he's back very, very soon, and I don't think that's happening. The Twins are better off without bad Buxton in the lineup, but significantly better with great Buxton in the lineup. He can be great Buxton for short stints, and carry the team. People like to think there's some magic formula for winning in the postseason, but the magic formula is just being the team with the most guys that get hot for a month with extra off days. Hot Buxton is a series winning player. Cold Buxton is a series losing player. I just don't think they can give him any real playoff run if he's not back in the regular season and showing he's great Buxton. It's a really tough decision for rostering him if he's healthy. The real options are that he's a starter or non-roster player. I don't know that a bench role is a good option for him. If he's bad Buxton he's not one of your top 14-15 bats. If he's good Buxton he's your best bat. So, in my opinion, you're either starting him or just leave him off the roster.

Not a big difference, but I believe he can come back next Saturday (retroactive IL placement since he didn't play yesterday) so could play the last 2 games. And I'd vote a definite yes to that option to get him some game action before the playoffs, assuming he's going to be playing in the playoffs.

Agree to disagree. I don't think Farmer and Castro maintain their production if they're everyday players instead of guys who've spent most of the year being put into advantageous situations to maximize their results. There's no question that Correa is the better fielding SS of the 3, and, in my opinion, there's a large difference in being able to maintain your performance while playing everyday, despite the matchups, and having modest success while being placed in as many "plus" matchups as possible.

I think the team's offense was about the same with Farmer or Castro in there instead of Correa, but I think there were a lot of plays he made defensively that neither of those guys can make, and he saved them runs. I don't think it was any kind of drastic improvement overall, but I think the team was unquestionably better overall with Correa as their everyday SS over some Farmer/Castro pairing.

He maintained 95-99 for his whole outing. Seemed to get more effective as he went. His first inning was the inning he struggled in as he walked a guy, gave up a loud single, and then the double play ball that turned into a single. He retired the next 6 guys he faced if I remember correctly. It was encouraging, and I hope he gets some major league innings this year to see how that goes.

Paddack looked really good as far as someone returning from their second TJ goes. One of those hits should've been a double play, at least from my angle, but Severino misplayed it (Severino looked frustrated with himself after the play, too). But Paddack was up to 99 (not sure how hot that gun is, but he was bringing it), and his change looked filthy, too. Toledo is no Murderer's Row, but I was encouraged by that outing for sure.

He looked like every bit the healthy Gallo we've come to know over the course of the year last night.

Yeah, a bunch of 60-day IL guys are coming for 40-man spots. I'd be shocked if they add anyone else to the 40-man before the offseason.

If Royce Lewis can't run 50 feet in any of 3 directions without blowing out his knee he's not someone we need to worry about anyways. This argument boils down to "he has to be an athlete in CF, and we can't expect our professional athlete to not get hurt being an athlete."

That's, to me, the ideal long term situation. Don't expect it to start next year by any means, but if they turn out to be who we hope that's what I'd like to see. With Martin turning into a bit more of a roving starter as ERod and Jenkins arrive (also assuming they turn out to be what we want).

Less than ideal for sure, but I'll take the extra offense. I just think there's far more options at 3B than CF now and moving forward. Lewis in CF balances this team out really well, in my opinion. I don't expect it to happen, but it's the move I'd make, and I wouldn't think twice about it.

Terrence Gore. I do remember, and I think those are useful pieces for sure. Dave Roberts for the Red Sox back in '04. I just won't believe they aren't going to be pinch hit happy until I see it. WC round there should be room for whoever they want with 15 position players, but I'm guessing they drop to 14 for the ALDS (🤞 they make it) and then we'll see what decisions they make.

I don't take anything to the bank with this FO, they surprise me all the time. He'd make my wild card roster, but Gallo wouldn't be on my 40-man anymore, and I would've traded Gordon in the offseason. This org puts way more emphasis on platoon advantages than I would, and there's a real chance they see more value in someone they'd want to be able to use as a pinch hitter over someone they'd use to steal bases. I don't agree with it, but it's a very real possibility. They aren't still carrying Gallo for no reason (at least I hope they aren't).

I'd guess 15 bats and 11 arms for the WC round. With that setup you can carry a base stealer (likely Stevenson) and an emergency starter. I'd carry Ober in the WC round as my 11th arm. Hope to not need him (either cuz you win in 2, or you have no bad starts or extra inning games), and have him as part of my game 1 plan for the ALDS if the WC goes 3 games. Even though I wouldn't use Ober in the WC round, unless he's needed, I'd actually still have him get up in 1 or 2 of the games as a "possible option" without any intention of putting him in. He's never thrown in the postseason, and since you shouldn't need your 11th arm anyways you can use it as a chance for him to get the first couple rounds of butterflies out. He seems like a calm dude in general, but I'm sure the first time you hear your name called out in the pen in the postseason that heart goes a little quicker. Get him used to the atmosphere in the WC round so he's as ready as he can be in the ALDS.

First round of the playoffs they probably carry 15 bats. Second round they probably carry 14. As much as it saddens me to think this, I'm guessing they didn't DFA Gallo because he's going to be on the playoff roster. If not him then Gordon. And they're still hoping for a Buxton return (according to all the reports I've read). Luplow wasn't going to crack the top 14 or 15 position player cutoff for the playoffs so DFAing him made sense. I assume he sticks around and is an injury replacement option during the playoffs. Jeffers, Vazquez, Correa, Farmer, Julien, Kirilloff, Lewis, Polanco, Solano, Castro, Kepler, MAT, and Wallner have their spots locked up (barring late season injury). That's 13 spots already filled. Stevenson is a good postseason roster fit in that he can be a base stealer off the bench, and is a more than capable CFer. So he's got the inside track on the last spot over a 1 dimensional guy like Luplow. Stevenson gets pushed out if Gallo and Gordon both "earn" a spot. Is even further pushed out if Buxton gets a spot. Stevenson vs Luplow was part of it, but really it's a question of 2 of Luplow, Stevenson, Gallo, Gordon, and Buxton for the WC round, and 1 of them for the rest of the playoffs. Luplow was never going to survive that competition outside of multiple injuries.

Luckily I wouldn't have to rely on Lee at 3B as I have Polanco and Miranda there before him. The Twins have far more IF depth, even assuming they don't bring back Farmer and/or Solano, than they do OF depth, especially CF depth. I'll take Lewis in CF and Polanco at 3B over Lewis at 3B and Martin in CF for 2024. And I'll take Lewis in CF and Lee at 3B over Lewis at 3B and Martin in CF for 2025 and beyond.

Fine, unproven rookie who very likely has early struggles, is much closer to serviceable than great in CF, hits for very minimal power, and will have to prove he can hit major league pitching before he starts racking up tons of walks because pitchers won't fear him early on. I'm excited to see what Martin can do, but handing him an opening day job, or expecting him to be your main CFer in 2024 is far riskier than putting Lewis there and relying on Polanco and Miranda to man 3B with Lee coming behind them. And before anyone shoots down Miranda as an option I'd just point out that Miranda's AAA splits are .306/.362/.490/.852 in 140 games while Martin's are .270/.396/.417/.812 in 55 games. So if Martin's recent AAA success is what you're banking on as being a legit major leaguer I'd sure think Miranda's would give you some hope, too.

That's fair. If given a choice I'd rather him not be around ice than be around ice, but I wouldn't stop him from taking his lady friend ice skating if he's looking for a nice date idea.

Yeah, I'd rather have an MVP in CF and an All Star at 3B than an MVP at 3B and a replacement level player in CF. To each their own, though.

Acuna Jr tore his playing RF, should the Braves not put him out there ever again? Adalberto Mondesi tore his twice running the bases, one of those times was just taking a lead, not even stealing or running, should he just retire? Whole slew of pitchers have torn theirs fielding balls off the mound, or covering 1st, should we tell our pitchers to never try to field a ball or cover first? Gavin Lux just tore his in spring training this year running to 3rd, should the Dodgers never let him run the bases? Rhys Hoskins tore his in spring training fielding a ball at first base, should he be a DH only now? Kyle Schwarber tore his playing LF, should the Phillies only DH him? Going to be hard considering Hoskins also has to DH since he tore his fielding. Mariano Rivera tore his back in the day simply shagging fly balls. Wilson Ramos tore his fielding a slow roller in front of home plate, should he never try to field a ball again? Edwin Diaz didn't tear his ACL, but did tear his patellar celebrating a win in the WBC, should he never celebrate again? Royce tore his the first time slipping on some ice, should we make sure he's never around ice ever again? Yeah, I remember that, and don't buy it as an excuse to not let him play CF when that's the defensive alignment that would allow for the Twins to put their best team on the field. I also saw Lewis tweak his ankle just fielding a grounder at third the other day. Playing a sport, especially as hard as Lewis plays, is inherently dangerous. Until someone can show definitive proof that CF is more dangerous I'm not going to let one freak injury stop me from fielding my best team. You know there are more fences in LF than CF, right? If just avoiding fences is the goal I'm not sure why you'd move a player to the place that has more fences. And most of Buxton's injuries happen on offense, not defense, so the "Buxton part II" thing isn't a reason not to put him in CF either.

I got some free tickets to the Saints game tonight so it's a nice little treat to get a nice dose of major leaguers. Even if I have to deal with watching Gallo 😜

Why shouldn't we be comfy cozy with it? What's the concern? We've seen him star out there in the AFL. We saw him make plays out there in St Paul. We saw him make an outstanding catch out there in Minneapolis. Why wouldn't we be comfortable with playing Royce in CF?