Any optimism for the Twins?

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Lipoli390
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Re: Any optimism for the Twins?

Post by Lipoli390 »

Buxton's been in a great groove at the plate lately. He's not just making contact, he's driving the ball. That's not surprising, he's always have great bat speed and winery strength. He should turn out to be an excellent hitter. I think he's been held back a bit by our coaching staff and the way they've messed with just his swing. The Twins really need to revamp the entire coaching staff from manager to hitting coach to pitching coach. In the meantime, Buxton seems to be finding his rhythm in spite of the current staff. This has been a horrible season, but I still see light at the end of the tunnel ownership cleans house and brings in the right people.
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longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]
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Re: Any optimism for the Twins?

Post by longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564] »

lipoli390 wrote:Buxton's been in a great groove at the plate lately. He's not just making contact, he's driving the ball. That's not surprising, he's always have great bat speed and winery strength. He should turn out to be an excellent hitter. I think he's been held back a bit by our coaching staff and the way they've messed with just his swing. The Twins really need to revamp the entire coaching staff from manager to hitting coach to pitching coach. In the meantime, Buxton seems to be finding his rhythm in spite of the current staff. This has been a horrible season, but I still see light at the end of the tunnel ownership cleans house and brings in the right people.


Yeah, really fun to see the kid picking it up here at the end of the season. This power stretch is a continuation of what he did the last month in Rochester, with the one pleasant exception that he is not striking out as much as he was in AAA...hope he can keep it up.

I don't know that I disagree with your suggestion that the team go through an entire revamping...after all, futility can't be rewarded. But I tend to think Buxton's hitting struggles have much more to do with his head than his coaching. Hitting is so much about confidence, and his teammates have commented on how much more confident he seems this stint. He certainly has the talent, if he can learn to relax at the plate and recognize pitches.

And as I type, the incredible Brian Dozier puts another one in the seats!
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Jester1534
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Re: Any optimism for the Twins?

Post by Jester1534 »

This dozier guy isn't half bad LST for a pull/fastball hitter ;) lol
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longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]
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Re: Any optimism for the Twins?

Post by longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564] »

Jester1534 wrote:This dozier guy isn't half bad LST for a pull/fastball hitter ;) lol


We're watching something truly historic here. And everyday, more proof that I have to be the wrongest person on this board!
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bleedspeed
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Re: Any optimism for the Twins?

Post by bleedspeed »

I think it is safe to say we should be better next year. Win more games and have better pitching.
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Monster
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Re: Any optimism for the Twins?

Post by Monster »

longstrangetrip wrote:
Jester1534 wrote:This dozier guy isn't half bad LST for a pull/fastball hitter ;) lol


We're watching something truly historic here. And everyday, more proof that I have to be the wrongest person on this board!


I can only hope for you to be wrong about more things that turn out to be positives. lol
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longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]
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Re: Any optimism for the Twins?

Post by longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564] »

monsterpile wrote:
longstrangetrip wrote:
Jester1534 wrote:This dozier guy isn't half bad LST for a pull/fastball hitter ;) lol


We're watching something truly historic here. And everyday, more proof that I have to be the wrongest person on this board!


I can only hope for you to be wrong about more things that turn out to be positives. lol


I'll do my best, monster! Hasn't this been fun to watch though...man, what a hot streak!
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Monster
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Re: Any optimism for the Twins?

Post by Monster »

http://www.twincities.com/2016/09/19/minnesota-twins-jorge-polanco-tries-to-end-the-shortstop-merry-go-round/

Thoughts?
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longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]
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Re: Any optimism for the Twins?

Post by longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564] »

monsterpile wrote:http://www.twincities.com/2016/09/19/minnesota-twins-jorge-polanco-tries-to-end-the-shortstop-merry-go-round/

Thoughts?


My thoughts haven't changed. I love Polanco's bat, but I just don't see him ever being a shortstop on even an average team. I'm glad Mollie is giving him a shot in this lost season, but he's not changing my mind. And it's not just me. Every manager he's played for has looked at him at SS and decided he was much better suited to play 2b...even during winter ball in the Dominican. Fortunately we don't need to draft a SS with the No. 1 pick next year because we have two guys who could easily become stars in SS. Most pundits see Nick Gordon taking over and doing a good job, maybe in 2 years...and I like him a lot too. But it's getting more difficult to ignore Luis Arraez. He's only 19, but has led his team in hitting every year...hit over .340 this past year. And a good glove too. We're set at SS down the road I think, but eventually Polanco will take over for Dozier...and probably not very soon barring a trade.
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JasonIsDaMan [enjin:7981157]
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Re: Any optimism for the Twins?

Post by JasonIsDaMan [enjin:7981157] »

longstrangetrip wrote:
monsterpile wrote:http://www.twincities.com/2016/09/19/minnesota-twins-jorge-polanco-tries-to-end-the-shortstop-merry-go-round/

Thoughts?


My thoughts haven't changed. I love Polanco's bat, but I just don't see him ever being a shortstop on even an average team. I'm glad Mollie is giving him a shot in this lost season, but he's not changing my mind. And it's not just me. Every manager he's played for has looked at him at SS and decided he was much better suited to play 2b...even during winter ball in the Dominican. Fortunately we don't need to draft a SS with the No. 1 pick next year because we have two guys who could easily become stars in SS. Most pundits see Nick Gordon taking over and doing a good job, maybe in 2 years...and I like him a lot too. But it's getting more difficult to ignore Luis Arraez. He's only 19, but has led his team in hitting every year...hit over .340 this past year. And a good glove too. We're set at SS down the road I think, but eventually Polanco will take over for Dozier...and probably not very soon barring a trade.


At first I thought JP would be the guy at SS. Now I'm not so sure. But I like him better than Gordon. Gordon had a .721 OPS at High-A with 24 errors. I don't have a breakdown of what number of those are throwing vs. fielding, but if it is high on the throwing side, that could be a problem. He's 20, but when JP was 20 he had a .780 OPS with High-A and had moved on to AA, but then again, JP had THIRTY-FIVE ERRORS his Age-20 year, so it's a mixed bag.

I am also concerned about Gordon's new legal problems (kind of a tasteless joke, if you don't get it just google "Nick Gordon" without baseball or Twins).
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