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GAME THREAD: Texas Rangers at Minnesota Twins, 8/21/2022, 1:10 PM CDT


Nine of twelve

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4 hours ago, Nine of twelve said:

Hi everybody, and welcome to today's game thread.

I check the obituaries every day. My name was not listed so that means I have to keep my promise to write today's opening post. I do not include any kind of baseball analysis in my thread openers because there's plenty of that on this site already, done by people more skilled and more knowledgeable about such matters than I am. So I use a 5-topic format. Today I'm going to mention something from baseball history from 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 years ago.

2012: Miguel Cabrera wins the triple crown.

2002: After the Twins survive the threat of contraction, Jacque Jones hits a home run in the first plate appearance of the season.

1992: Center fielder Andy Van Slyke of the Pirates records an unassisted double play, a rare feat for an outfielder.

1982: The first regular-season MLB game in the Metrodome registers an attendance of 52,279.

1972: 86 regular-season MLB games are cancelled as a result of the first players' strike in history.

 

No lineups have been posted at this time. That can be added later by anyone who wishes to do so.

Expected weather conditions at game time: Partly cloudy, 72º F, northwest winds at 2 MPH.

I rarely comment on thread openers. Sorry folks. Honestly, most of them I can’t get through, they bore me to tears. This one though is excellent. Thank you!

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1 hour ago, AlwaysinModeration said:

I will concede that Judge has had a better year than Buxton. And that Buxton had had 338 at bats, and 379 plate appearances.  

Buxton has played in 91 of the Twins 118 games, a clip of 77%.  He’s hit 28 homers, and posted 3.9 WAR over 379 plate appearances.  If he keeps up those rates, he’ll play in 33 more games, and wind up with 515 plate appearances, 38HR, and 5.3WAR.  All of those numbers would be career highs.

 

25 minutes ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

This!

additional, his current 379 plate appearances are the second most in a season in his career.

his current fWAR 3.7 is third most in a season in his career.

he’s having a more productive season compared to history despite the knee injury.

I'm all for seeing Buxton as often as possible, and if he does come in around the above numbers I think that's overall a W. This might be the best case scenario for him, i.e. he's just never going to be healthy for anywhere close to a full season and this year might be peak as far as availability is concerned. 

That said, I think it's also fair to acknowledge he's roughly .5 WAR shy of his total last year while playing 50% more games to this point. He's obviously an incredibly valuable player, but his contributions this season haven't come in remotely the same way as last year. That's ok, but I understand some of the criticisms too. 

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5 minutes ago, Twins_Fan_For_Life said:

Is it just me, or has Miranda improved a ton defensively at first base?

I’d like to see him take the job full time but Arraez has to play too. A good problem to have I guess, a utility player who should win a batting title.

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Just now, KirbyDome89 said:

 

I'm all for seeing Buxton as often as possible, and if he does come in around the above numbers I think that's overall a W. This might be the best case scenario for him, i.e. he's just never going to be healthy for anywhere close to a full season and this year might be peak as far as availability is concerned. 

That said, I think it's also fair to acknowledge he's roughly .5 WAR shy of his total last year while playing 50% more games to this point. He's obviously an incredibly valuable player, but his contributions this season haven't come in remotely the same way as last year. That's ok, but I understand some of the criticisms too. 

Agreed, you take the bad with the good. I wish he was healthier too, but I don’t really get the call for change, or criticism. Buxton’s health history was a part of the contract price and the funky incentives. History is the best (not necessarily accurate) predictor of the future.

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4 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

I didn't realize Texas had such a dominant pitching staff...

Twins offense has been unwatchable for almost 2 months now. Really, really bad - didn't have enough talent in the first place but with the injuries, this team is anemic. 

Be lucky to score 2 today. 

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15 minutes ago, LVTwinsfan said:

I’d like to see him take the job full time but Arraez has to play too. A good problem to have I guess, a utility player who should win a batting title.

It will be interesting to see what they do next year as far as finding a position for Miranda and Arraez.  Will Urshella be back ?

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17 minutes ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

Agreed, you take the bad with the good. I wish he was healthier too, but I don’t really get the call for change, or criticism. Buxton’s health history was a part of the contract price and the funky incentives. History is the best (not necessarily accurate) predictor of the future.

100%. If he's starting every game of a playoff series in CF regular season usage is a non issue. When he's not in CF now, or playing at all I assume it's because he physically can't. I'll take 100+ games at 5-6 WAR over 60 phenomenal games at 5 WAR + a season derailing injury every time.

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4 minutes ago, Twins_Fan_For_Life said:

It will be interesting to see what they do next year as far as finding a position for Miranda and Arraez.  Will Urshella be back ?

He's arbitration eligible, which makes him a good candidate to keep or trade.

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9 minutes ago, Twins_Fan_For_Life said:

Urshella has brought defensive stability to third base, in addition to being a pretty good hitter.  Best glove over there since Koskie?

You can win with him…could certainly do worse. But as 3rd basemen go, he’s not particularly valuable offensively. Ranked at/ near the bottom of the AL in WRC+ among qualified 3B (granted, several clubs don’t have a qualifying 3B).

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