bleedspeed177 wrote:I was a little concerned about Sano coming into this season. I think he got to the majors and had some success. He felt like he made it and let off the gas. Hopefully these struggles make him put in the work. I really hope Kepler, Buxton, and Sano are the foundation of this team, but not sure any of these guys have the leader traits to them.
I think you bring up a good point about leadership. IMO that lack of leadership has been a real problem for the Twins since they have struggled. Sure injuries and lack of talent have been massive factors too but since Cuddyer left and one season or Torii it seems to me nobody was up to the task. It seems like in baseball you don't have to have your vocal clubhouse leaders be the top players to have a really good team so hopefully they can find guys (or foster people in the organization) that bring that to the table.
Even though he is no-where as accomplished, I am concerned Sano will enter "2002 Randy Moss" zone this winter. If he tries to recreate the "The Road Warrior" chase scene on the Hennepin Avenue bridge, I won't bat an eye.
Have you seen Molitor's latest comments? It seems there is a very real possibility he gets sent down to AAA.
Good. Then he won't be near the Hennepin Avenue bridge.
bleedspeed177 wrote:I was a little concerned about Sano coming into this season. I think he got to the majors and had some success. He felt like he made it and let off the gas. Hopefully these struggles make him put in the work. I really hope Kepler, Buxton, and Sano are the foundation of this team, but not sure any of these guys have the leader traits to them.
I think you bring up a good point about leadership. IMO that lack of leadership has been a real problem for the Twins since they have struggled. Sure injuries and lack of talent have been massive factors too but since Cuddyer left and one season or Torii it seems to me nobody was up to the task. It seems like in baseball you don't have to have your vocal clubhouse leaders be the top players to have a really good team so hopefully they can find guys (or foster people in the organization) that bring that to the table.
Even though he is no-where as accomplished, I am concerned Sano will enter "2002 Randy Moss" zone this winter. If he tries to recreate the "The Road Warrior" chase scene on the Hennepin Avenue bridge, I won't bat an eye.
Have you seen Molitor's latest comments? It seems there is a very real possibility he gets sent down to AAA.
Makes sense. Activate Plouffe and send Sano down to see if he can figure out how to play 3b...made his 15th error today on a routine grounder. I still have faith Sano is going to be a star, but he's not doing anything well right now. Leave him at Rochester until September call ups.
Ha...well, Sano's 2 homers today changes the equation. Tough to send him down after a day like that! Vargas has been struggling a little lately, so I'm guessing he will go down now to make room for Plouffe. It might have been better for Sano's development to let him play every day at 3rd at Rochester...not going to be much opportunity sharing third with Plouffe and Polanco...but I don't see it happening now.
Overall the ballclub is playing really well. They haven't lost a series in some time, and I think I saw that they have the second best record in the AL over the past several weeks. It's too late to be meaningful, but at least it's good to see them playing like many of us thought they would at the start of the year. Now they just have to finish strong and build some momentum going into next year.
longstrangetrip wrote:Ha...well, Sano's 2 homers today changes the equation. Tough to send him down after a day like that! Vargas has been struggling a little lately, so I'm guessing he will go down now to make room for Plouffe. It might have been better for Sano's development to let him play every day at 3rd at Rochester...not going to be much opportunity sharing third with Plouffe and Polanco...but I don't see it happening now.
Overall the ballclub is playing really well. They haven't lost a series in some time, and I think I saw that they have the second best record in the AL over the past several weeks. It's too late to be meaningful, but at least it's good to see them playing like many of us thought they would at the start of the year. Now they just have to finish strong and build some momentum going into next year.
If Sano has been struggling as much in the field as it sounds like then maybe it's time to just let him hit for a while. It sounds like he needs a wake up call but do they want to send him down just to send a message when hey are actually playing well? Yeah they aren't going to make the playoffs or anything but playing well the rest of the season certainly could have some meaning. Once again whoever is making the decisions for the Twins have some tough things to ponder now and the next few months.
Monster, sending Sano a message is exactly what Mollie wants to do. There is frustration among the Twins brass that Sano need to work harder, that his attitude is too "just happy to be here". That, along with his struggles in the field, was why he was rumored to be heading to Rochester when Plouffe is activated this week. But now it looks like it's more likely to be Vargas, and I don't have a big problem with that. And I also don't have a big problem with Sano just DHing the rest of the year, although he could use the experience at third if the Twins still think he has some potential there. At any rate, you're right...there are some tough decisions to be made the rest of the season and during the offseason.
Edit: Yikes, Vargas gets a reprise and Buxton gets sent down...didn't see that coming. He has been terrible at the plate though. Since June 7, he is hitting .163 with 50 K's in only 145 PA's. He has had 4 trips to the majors now, and his best batting average was his second stint at .217. We all hope the kid figures things out, but there has to be a lot of nervousness among Twins' execs.
longstrangetrip wrote:
Edit: Yikes, Vargas gets a reprise and Buxton gets sent down...didn't see that coming. He has been terrible at the plate though. Since June 7, he is hitting .163 with 50 K's in only 145 PA's. He has had 4 trips to the majors now, and his best batting average was his second stint at .217. We all hope the kid figures things out, but there has to be a lot of nervousness among Twins' execs.
It is starting to be a worry. I hope he trhives in the minors. I worry about his confidence at the plate at some point.
longstrangetrip wrote:
Edit: Yikes, Vargas gets a reprise and Buxton gets sent down...didn't see that coming. He has been terrible at the plate though. Since June 7, he is hitting .163 with 50 K's in only 145 PA's. He has had 4 trips to the majors now, and his best batting average was his second stint at .217. We all hope the kid figures things out, but there has to be a lot of nervousness among Twins' execs.
It is starting to be a worry. I hope he trhives in the minors. I worry about his confidence at the plate at some point.
I haven't watched the games but if Buxton is really struggling maybe it's his turn to move down. I would think the Twins would want to get a look at some other young guys they have to make decisions on the next few months. Vargas is one of them. He know has about a season's worth of MLB ABs and not much this year. Is he a guy worth keeping around or what? I don't know how much he will be in the lineup but getting him ABs at this level makes sense even in a bench role which probably is what he is looking at doing at this level unless he really hits.
Santana is another guy that could benefit. Is he a decent uniting guy? 4th OF? Can the guy hit? Idk sending Buxton down does give them a chance to see him play everyday probably in CF which seems to be the place they feel the most comfortable putting him in the field. Again a lot of tough decision and the bad news is the top 2 prospects haven't made those decisions any easier.
longstrangetrip wrote:
Edit: Yikes, Vargas gets a reprise and Buxton gets sent down...didn't see that coming. He has been terrible at the plate though. Since June 7, he is hitting .163 with 50 K's in only 145 PA's. He has had 4 trips to the majors now, and his best batting average was his second stint at .217. We all hope the kid figures things out, but there has to be a lot of nervousness among Twins' execs.
It is starting to be a worry. I hope he trhives in the minors. I worry about his confidence at the plate at some point.
I haven't watched the games but if Buxton is really struggling maybe it's his turn to move down. I would think the Twins would want to get a look at some other young guys they have to make decisions on the next few months. Vargas is one of them. He know has about a season's worth of MLB ABs and not much this year. Is he a guy worth keeping around or what? I don't know how much he will be in the lineup but getting him ABs at this level makes sense even in a bench role which probably is what he is looking at doing at this level unless he really hits.
Santana is another guy that could benefit. Is he a decent uniting guy? 4th OF? Can the guy hit? Idk sending Buxton down does give them a chance to see him play everyday probably in CF which seems to be the place they feel the most comfortable putting him in the field. Again a lot of tough decision and the bad news is the top 2 prospects haven't made those decisions any easier.
Yeah, I think Santana is the main beneficiary of the Buxton demotion, although he will likely share CF with Rosario...and maybe get some reps at SS too. And Santana has been really good recently....321 BA since 7/3 and not hurting us in the field. The real logjam is at 3b/1b/DH where they have Plouffe, Polanco, Sano, Mauer and Vargas all looking for playing time at those 3 spots. Polanco can also fill in for Dozier at 2b, but Doz is playing so well it's difficult to bench him. So that means 2 of those 5 guys will be sitting every night...not an ideal development situation.
To me, the fix for Buxton could be pretty easy. Every at bat goes fastball down the middle strike one then him chasing two offspeed pitches just off the plate.
Have him swing at that first fastball until they stop throwing him one, or at least throw him a better one.
JasonIsDaMan wrote:To me, the fix for Buxton could be pretty easy. Every at bat goes fastball down the middle strike one then him chasing two offspeed pitches just off the plate.
Have him swing at that first fastball until they stop throwing him one, or at least throw him a better one.
I'll add this. I haven't seen much since Buxton came up last time but didn't he add a leg kick in his last minor league stint? If he has continued using that it may make sense for him to work that out at a lower level.
