Buxton to the IL, Larnach added, Waddell DFA

[Danchat]

It's Larnach time already? Booya!! 

[shortround81]

And it sounds like "weeks" not "days" on Buxton!

 

[MNT1996]

Happy about Larnach. Sad about Buxton. 

 

Hopefully Larnach can tear it up. Having him and Kirilloff in the OF will be fun to watch this year. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

[MNT1996]

My guess is that Waddell will be DFA'd

[Danchat]

Now that I think about it, I wondered if they considered calling up Celestino as he's a very good defender in CF and he's on the 40 man and already using his 2nd option, but he's at AA and his bat is not ready yet. Larnach is the likely choice because he has the best chance of hitting the ball and getting on base, because without Buxton, Arraez, and Kirilloff, how the heck is this team going to score runs?

[Otto von Ballpark]

Various sample sizes, some very tiny, but Larnach's wRC+ has been incredibly stable at every level of his pro career so far:

 

R: 139

A: 149

A+: 148

AA: 148

AAA: 152

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Now that I think about it, I wondered if they considered calling up Celestino

Maybe if Kirilloff and Arraez weren't already on the shelf too? With all these injuries, they're not dropping Cave yet, and they probably need a corner hitter more immediately than a defensive CF.

[howeda7]

Can Larnach play CF? If not, please get Broxton up. I can't watch Jake Cave in CF for the next two months.

[Dave The Dastardly]

 

Now that I think about it, I wondered if they considered calling up Celestino as he's a very good defender in CF and he's on the 40 man and already using his 2nd option, but he's at AA and his bat is not ready yet. Larnach is the likely choice because he has the best chance of hitting the ball and getting on base, because without Buxton, Arraez, and Kirilloff, how the heck is this team going to score runs?

Runs have been optional. Launch angle is the goal.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Can Larnach play CF?

Larnach has not played CF in his professional career to date (only 172 games). Doesn't look like he played it in college either.

 

 

If not, please get Broxton up. I can't watch Jake Cave in CF for the next two months.

If Buxton is out for the next 2 months, the relative difference between Cave and Broxton seems like a pretty trivial concern.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

My guess is that Waddell will be DFA'd

You guessed right!

 

It's official now: Waddell has been DFA'd, to make room on the 40-man for Larnach.

[Otto von Ballpark]

FYI, lineups out for tonight, and Larnach is not in it. He's with the team in Detroit, however.

 

LF Garlick (and batting leadoff!), CF Cave, RF Kepler

[Danchat]

 

FYI, lineups out for tonight, and Larnach is not in it. He's with the team in Detroit, however.

 

LF Garlick (and batting leadoff!), CF Cave, RF Kepler

This outfield has 3 lefties now, with Larnach taking over LF, and it'll be 4 when Kirilloff is ready. Lefty pitchers are going to eat them up.

[Mike Sixel]

Disappointing....

[Cap'n Piranha]

 

 

I have to wonder if this injury is in any way due to Byron compensating for lingering pain in his knee.  When they announced patella tendinitis, and then had him back in the lineup after only one day, my eyebrows definitely went up.

[twinbythebay]

 

Can Larnach play CF? If not, please get Broxton up. I can't watch Jake Cave in CF for the next two months.

I would much rather see them move Kepler to CF while Buxton is out and fill the corner spots with Garlick, Cave, and Kirilloff (when he's back). I'm sure Arraez will get more time in LF as well when he's back. I just think Broxton will be too much of a downgrade offensively to justify his defense, but I'm also not looking forward to seeing this outfield defense while Buxton is out...

[twinbythebay]

 

This outfield has 3 lefties now, with Larnach taking over LF, and it'll be 4 when Kirilloff is ready. Lefty pitchers are going to eat them up.

They already have been getting inexplicably eaten alive by LHP this season, despite the lineup being built to crush southpaws... How much worse could it really get?

[LA VIkes Fan]

Great to see Larnach up, terrible news on Buxton.  Very bittersweet.

 

Can someone tell me why Kepler does not/ can't/ won't play CF? I kind of understand Cave in the lineup tonight; don't put Larnach up against a lefty on his first day. But what about tomorrow's RH starter and Sunday's LH? It's great that he's up but let's get him in the lineup and on the field. Can't evaluate a guy who doesn't play. Kepler has to play CF to make this works or we have to call up Broxton. 

[LA VIkes Fan]

 

Larnach has not played CF in his professional career to date (only 172 games). Doesn't look like he played it in college either.

 

 

If Buxton is out for the next 2 months, the relative difference between Cave and Broxton seems like a pretty trivial concern.

Perhaps so, but can Broxton really be any worse than Cave? Cave hasn't hit since 2019 and looks awful at the plate. I get that he was decent in 2018 and 2019 but that is beginning to fade away in the rear view mirror. As for 2021? Cave is 12-75 with 32 strikeouts. 32 strikeouts in 75 ABs, 84 PAs. Let that sink in. Cave has struck out in 42.6% of his ABs, 38% of all of his plate appearances. His defense in CF? Mediocre. He might come around but it seems like he has a better chance of doing that by going to AAA and getting some playing time. This is a perfect opportunity to see if Broxton can play. Let's use it GD it. Switch them around!  

 

I don't get this. Stop playing guys who haven't played well in the hope that things will miraculously change. For the love of all that is good in the world, just stop. 

[twinbythebay]

 

Great to see Larnach up, terrible news on Buxton.  Very bittersweet.

 

Can someone tell me why Kepler does not/ can't/ won't play CF? I kind of understand Cave in the lineup tonight; don't put Larnach up against a lefty on his first day. But what about tomorrow's RH starter and Sunday's LH? It's great that he's up but let's get him in the lineup and on the field. Can't evaluate a guy who doesn't play. Kepler has to play CF to make this works or we have to call up Broxton. 

Kepler played CF the majority of the time in 2019 when Buxton was out. In 2020, I think they said they wanted to avoid moving Kepler around too much, and they would rather keep him in RF where he's most comfortable. Given how Cave has looked this year, they don't have much choice in my mind. They need to move Kepler to CF because Cave has proven that he's not capable of being an everyday player.

[howeda7]

 

Larnach has not played CF in his professional career to date (only 172 games). Doesn't look like he played it in college either.

 

 

If Buxton is out for the next 2 months, the relative difference between Cave and Broxton seems like a pretty trivial concern.

In a relative sense, yes. But I just cannot watch the flailing at bats AND the God awful routes/stupid dives for 2 months. At least Broxton can play defense.

[ashbury]

At least Broxton can play defense.

Cave isn't viable if he continues to hit as he has the last two years; he probably won't.

 

But Cave's putrid 2021 start (.160 BA, .500 OPS) is quite possibly what Broxton's trend line would be for the full year.

 

[ashbury]

POLANCO!!!!

[stringer bell]

 

Perhaps so, but can Broxton really be any worse than Cave? Cave hasn't hit since 2019 and looks awful at the plate. I get that he was decent in 2018 and 2019 but that is beginning to fade away in the rear view mirror. As for 2021? Cave is 12-75 with 32 strikeouts. 32 strikeouts in 75 ABs, 84 PAs. Let that sink in. Cave has struck out in 42.6% of his ABs, 38% of all of his plate appearances. His defense in CF? Mediocre. He might come around but it seems like he has a better chance of doing that by going to AAA and getting some playing time. This is a perfect opportunity to see if Broxton can play. Let's use it GD it. Switch them around!  

 

I don't get this. Stop playing guys who haven't played well in the hope that things will miraculously change. For the love of all that is good in the world, just stop. 

Cave started very slowly in 2019, but was one of the Twins' best hitters in the second half of the season. In his first 87 PAs in 2019, Cave hit .176 with a .542 OPS comparable to this year. He hit over .300 the rest of the way with a .964 OPS. 

 

Two points to make--yes, he's been dreadful so far this year, the -.5 WAR is the worst of all the position players and secondly this is why I don't think Cave is not an ideal fourth outfielder because he is streaky and can't be relied on for long intervals.

[Dodecahedron]

17 hours ago, stringer bell said:

Cave started very slowly in 2019, but was one of the Twins' best hitters in the second half of the season. In his first 87 PAs in 2019, Cave hit .176 with a .542 OPS comparable to this year. He hit over .300 the rest of the way with a .964 OPS. 

Since Cave is a singles hitter, his batting average needs to be 100 points higher for him to be deserving as a back-up #8 or #9 guy in the batting order.  As a poor defender, a long-term back-up role isn't in his future.

If Cave wants to aim higher and stick in the majors as a starter, he needs to start batting .300.  It is not impossible that this will happen. but he is running out of time.  And do the Twins really want a spot reserved for a poor defender in the outfield for a singles hitter?

[4twinsJA]

Cave is who he is now, probably not going to develop into a above average fielder or high average hitter at this point in career. Twins have players on the way up, will see how Larnach does the next couple of weeks, Kirilloff looks ready if healthy. I like Garlick as RH bat against LH pitching. I would like to see Kirilloff, Buxton, Kepler, Larnach, Garlick rotating in OF, with Kirilloff at 1B for Sano 1-2/week, and maybe rest Cruz once a week.

[LA VIkes Fan]

I think 4twins JA has the right idea. The idea is to play Kirilloff and Larnach as much as we can to see what they can do. I do like the idea of having Garlick around to play against LH pitching. I think when Arraez gets back he is going to need some outfield days since it looks like Polanco is heating up and showing us he can actually hit. I would like to see Kepler play CF more so we can get other guys in the lineup in the corner outfield spots. If we don't want to do that, then I think we need to get Broxton up to the majors instead of Cave and play him in centerfield and also add another right-handed bat. That would wind up being at the expense of some advanced for Kepler and Larnach down the road. Cave can go down to AAA and see if he can refine his stroke. It doesn't look like were going anywhere this season so we might as well find out whether the guys we have can play.

[Number3]

So much for the "Trade Buxton" thread. Anyone could see this coming. I didn't think it would be so soon. Buxton is simply too fragile for his style of play. If he did continue his offensive performance (doubtful) he should be moved to left or right field to try to eliminate the extra dangers in center.

[AceWrigley]

1 hour ago, Number3 said:

So much for the "Trade Buxton" thread. Anyone could see this coming. I didn't think it would be so soon. Buxton is simply too fragile for his style of play. If he did continue his offensive performance (doubtful) he should be moved to left or right field to try to eliminate the extra dangers in center.

I thought he injured himself this time running to 1B.