wsnydes

Agreed. There's no reason that bunting shouldn't be in the arsenal of someone so fast. I don't think he's as good as he could be with bunting, but I think you're right. He needs to do something different. There's no reason why this can't be one of those things. He does need to get more swinging hits for it to become extremely effective, but you have to start somewhere and if that is what it takes for him to relax and settle in, I'm all for it. At this point, I think he's pressing and trying too hard. He's not in the lineup again today, so maybe taking a step back is a good idea. He seems pretty lost at the plate right now.

It's hardly a guarantee that things will even out in the long run. Obviously you hope that they do, but there's nothing guaranteeing that it'll happen. The problem with the law of averages is that "average" moves depending on how good you really are. They might start winning close games, but they might not. If they don't start hitting, they won't. That is also predicated on the pitching holding up. As you've pointed out, bullpen reliability has a lot of variability. The situation could actually get worse instead of better! Seattle could keep winning close games or start losing them. You'd hope they even out in the long run, but that doesn't always play out. The Twins have a bigger hole to dig themselves out of for the WC than they do the division. Either way, they haven't been able to capitalize on Cleveland's early struggles due to poor play. Hopefully they can overcome that. Maybe they can, maybe they can't. All of this is why they play the game though.

Except the Tigers are right there too. I can't imagine what they're doing is sustainable, but if the Twins are included in this discussion, so too are the Tigers. They haven't gone away yet, so it's hard to say that they're any sort of pushover if the Twins aren't. Seattle still seems to be finding ways to win without Cano. Felix hasn't been Felix all season. The M's are 8-2 in their last 10. They're playing pretty good ball and winning the close games the Twins aren't. They might be able to catch one of them, but I don't think they'll be able to catch both - which is what they need to do. If those two are beating each other up, that doesn't really help the Twins. One of them will always benefit at the expense of the other. The Twins are 11 games back in the win column already. I wish that I had your optimism.

I think there's a bit more to it, but teams that do the little things poorly lose more close games than they win. That does go back to the manager. Execution needs to be included in that discussion too though.

I don't believe that the pen is more important than the hitters, it's that it's impossible to win a game in which you never lead. However, if you have a lead in a game, you're likely to at least luck into a win now and then. Cleveland's issue is maintaining a lead, not getting one in the first place. I believe that it's easier to maintain a lead than it is to come from behind to get one and then maintain it. I also think that fixing a bullpen on a team who has a good rotation is easier than fixing an entire offense. I realize that you're not addressing just my comments, however you did use my words in that particular case. I felt obliged to elaborate on what I, personally, meant. There is a lot of pessimism here and it's hard to blame anyone for it. Generally speaking, this team isn't much different than I expected going into the season. I'm surprised that the bats are as cold as they are, but I'm also pleasantly surprised by the pitching. I saw this team being about what they were last year, just a more consistent version of it. That was an average team at best that would beat up on the bottom third of the AL and still struggle mightily to beat true playoff contenders. That's pretty much what I'm seeing. I don't disagree that they can't catch the likes of the Rays or Jays or even Oakland. However, they aren't catching the Yankees, M's or Angels. Two of those teams are currently sitting in the drivers seat. This team, even if they're hitting, are not in the same conversation as those teams in my opinion. This assumes no major injuries of course. M's and Angels are an easier get, but I don't think that catching the Yankees is even debatable. I realize that they only have to catch one of them, but I just don't think this team is nearly as good as those teams.

Unless his toe swelled up or something of that nature, I agree with this completely. I didn't hear anything to that effect though, so it does seem pretty questionable to sit him just for the sake of resting him on a day a lefty is starting.

You're reading into that one word far too much. As I've said before, there is still plenty of baseball to be played. There is time, no doubt. I'm not arguing that, nor ever have been. However, the bats are showing no signs of coming to life yet Cleveland is already pulling away. This team isn't going to be a wild card team, so they need to catch and surpass Cleveland in order to make the playoffs. That's all I'm saying, and that's all that I meant by using the word "salvage." If they win the division, they salvaged what was a poor start to the season. I would argue that if Cleveland solidifies their bullpen and the Twins find their bats, it's the same season. Neither team gains anything on the other. Which means that the Twins are still in the hole that they've created by not taking advantage of Cleveland's struggles. the Twins are struggling because they can't score. Cleveland is losing because they can't prevent teams from scoring late in games. To me, those two neutralize the other. One team can't hold a lead, the other can't get a lead. I'd rather be the team that can't hold a lead than the one that can't get a lead.

I wasn't arguing that point and I was at least partially agreeing with you. Please reread my second paragraph. Part of the logic that I think you're missing is that the Twins are closer to the Twins that we've seen in recent memory and Cleveland is not. If not for a 20-10 month last year, that squad was about what we're seeing of this current squad. That 20-10 month is what put them in the playoffs. Cleveland is coming off of back to back playoff appearances, a division title and two years removed from a WS appearance with much of the same personnel. The Twins have been largely irrelevant for much of the past decade. I'll say this though. I think you're trying to align assumptions that aren't necessarily trying to be aligned. It's perfectly logical to believe that the Twins are this bad and still believe that Cleveland will get better. Their recent track records back that up. You are correct though, this could be the real Cleveland and the Twins are the ones that will take off. That's certainly within the realm of possibility. Many, myself included, believe that Cleveland will find their groove and take off. As I said before, I also think that the Twins bats will get better. However, I wonder if it'll be too late to salvage the season.

I'd say that the Indians are underachieving, but they're still 3 games over .500 and 4.5 games clear at the moment. It's true, if they were performing as expected they should be in a better position. There's still a lot of baseball to be played and I also expect the bats to pick up, but this team hasn't been able to capitalize on Cleveland's early struggles and they may be finding their groove. By the time the Twins bats come to life, if that happens at all, it may be too late. They've been extremely fortunate that they aren't in a bigger hole considering how poorly they've been playing.

Honest question since I haven't watched or read all of the interviews with Buxton; does anyone actually ask him about hitting? If the interviewer is focusing on his glove, why would Buxton talk about hitting? That would be off topic. Clearly he's a premier glove and that is definitely something to discuss. His ability in the field is something fewer players possess. If the only question that hints at hitting is what he likes better, I'm not sure why he'd talk about hitting at all. I don't know how a conclusion of any relevance could be derived from that. It is likely true that if he were hitting he'd be asked about it more. I don't know how much he was asked about it during the second half of last season when he was on fire.

You bring up some fair points. And you're right, long overdue is probably too strong. For me, I guess that I'd point to the lack of use as being the reason to jettison $20M. If you're going to pay him $20M one way or another, I'll take that extra roster spot and use it for someone that can play and that the manager will use. They activated him to the active roster knowing what he brought to the table. He struggled in ST and I don't recall his extended ST outings being all that impressive (from box scores admittedly), so it should not have been a surprise that he struggled at the MLB level. I can appreciate that the team allowed him to try to get back. I actually don't even fault them for it without even considering the money. For Hughes, I admire the fortitude, will and desire that it takes to keep trying like that. I feel for the guy, I really do.

Interesting. I was under the impression that we got to see the same views they were watching. That's good to know though. It makes seemingly blown calls more understandable. I was at the game and they showed three different angles I believe. One clearly showed that Kepler's front foot didn't touch the plate. Another showed that his back shin did. Another showed when the tag was applied. None of them showed definitively how that timing worked. I don't know if the TV coverage had more angles or not. That would seem to be a flaw in the system though. If the idea is to get the calls right, would it not make sense that the fans watching get to see the views that make those types of calls correct? It's kind of like the adage about a tree falling in the forest, does anyone hear it? In this case, if the correct call was made but the fans don't understand or see what makes it correct, is it really correct? Thanks for the insight. That helps clear some things up for me.

This move was long overdue. Glad that the cord has finally been cut. That said, I wish Hughes well in the future wherever or whatever he ends up doing.

I do feel that he was out, but with the replay views shown I have no idea how they overturned the call on the field. Nothing was definitive enough in my view.

I don't necessarily disagree with this, but if he's out they run themselves out of a potentially bigger inning.

A mediocre throw gets him by quite a bit. That makes it dumb in my view. Results don't make a decision a correct one. Lucking into a run isn't wise. That's all I'm saying. You were right earlier, agree to disagree.

From my angle in the stands, he was going to be out by 20' with a decent throw. Maybe that's not how it is, but that's what it looked like from section 108. 1st edit: And if it was closer than that, that could change my opinion. 2nd edit: just saw the replay. It was closer than I initially thought, but still out with a decent throw. I'm not as bothered by it as I was initially, but I still think it was a poor decision.

Would you still agree if he were out by 6 steps after a decent, not great throw?

I don't disagree, but I'd still say it was unnecessary.

Agreed. I just accidentally deleted that post, but I don't think it was a smart play. It worked with a nice deke, but pretty risky just like the Grossman tag.

I'd argue the presence of replay would make it easier. You get tossed for questioning the replay ruling!

A steak through the heart?

So you're saying that it's downhill from here?!?

Judging by some of the lineups here turns out, I'm not convinced he's bothered in the least!

I personally think they need both in order to be true contenders. By contenders, I'm not talking about the division. I'm not all that interested in just winning divisions.