Kelly Vance

River, we often agree, but you don't understand players if you think there is a shelf life on a big DISS like this.

You can't blame "Lack of durability" on a player that crashes into the wall and dives for fly balls for your entertainment. Unless, of course, you don't care about the effort displayed. And this has nothing to do with Cave, or Grossmann or Nick Punto. Does anybody really want to see Buck sent home so Fields and Grossman can get more at bats?

Im with ya.

This moves means they gotta trade him before his contract is over. Which means they want to help him play better.... for some other team

Well, they did it. They shut him down and they know it ticked him off. Levine said "From this day forward, I think we recognize a responsibility to make amends," Levine said. "And that we're going to need to invest in the relationship with Byron Buxton moving forward, because I think as much as we would like to believe that all the relationship building here to date will carry the day, we understand this is a blow to the player, a potential blow to the relationship and we're prepared to try and stay as consistent as we can and reinvest in that element of this because we realized this was information that was not appealing or certainly collaborative." Translation, "We know this will piss him off, but maybe we can give him something to smooth his ruffled feathers." Meaning: Buck is gone as soon as he can go free agent, and he won't sign an extension.

I knew somebody would bite. :-)

Wrist injuries heal slowly. I don't think they would be short sighted enough to use that for an excuse, especially if it weren't true.

he's not a clubhouse leader.... how do you know that? You don't. In fact, Joe is a great clubhouse leader.

Not surprised, but they didn't do it for Red Dawg.

Entitlement isn't the word exactly. There is a saying that you shouldn't lose your position because of injury. Yeah, well, tell that to Wally Pipp. If a better guy comes along, well, that's showbiz. This isn't about giving Bux anything. He's earned it. He broke his foot and played hurt to entertain you. Nobody needs to teach him a lesson. Guys that dive for balls don't have bad attitudes, as a rule. And guys who lack heart do not run as hard as Buck did on a broken foot. Unfortunately he started trying to compensate for the foot and it screwed up his swing. Easy to see. Nobody "outplayed" him, and certainly not Grossman. Meanwhile, they let his foot heal and he is playing again. When he is ready, timing wise, meaning his swing, not contract stuff, he should come up. Buck doesn't need to earn a spot at this point. He is not just our starting center fielder, he is the best center fielder in the entire sport. In fact he is the platinum glove winner for all of baseball last year. You don't see that as starter caliber but the rest of baseball sees it as All Star Caliber. Platinum glove means best in baseball. That is not a AAA player. By the way, this honor was well deserved. He worked his butt off last year earning it. Don't forget all that. Buck is not Willy Mays, but he is as good a fielder as Willy ever was. He has 50 + steal potential, if he could learn to get on base. He was only thrown out like once last year in something like 30 tries. Carew needs to teach him how to bunt. That would add 30 hits a year. My point is that this guy has potential high above the clouds on a "best in baseball" level. Those other guys you mention are just, well, other guys. I'm not handing out scholarships. But Buck has earned it, crashing into the wall and diving for catches just for your entertainment for several years now. He is one of the brightest stars in the game and I want to see him play, as soon as he is up to it. You don't treat a guy like him as if he is a minor leaguer on the bubble. Anyway, I have an ulterior motive. After showing I won't try to leverage him on the 1 year of control thing, I would ask him for something. I'd offer him 5 years at a fair price and see if he won't do it. If he wants to come up and you leverage him to gain a year of control, you guarantee he will leave as soon as he can.No way he signs an extension then. As for Sano, trying him in right field was the dumbest move ever. It raised eyebrows throughout baseball, and for good reason. The only reason they tried it was they liked Trevor, and he had no trade value. But I want to end on a positive note. Sano is slimmer and I think he will have a monster 2019. Buck needs to get himself right, and hopefully will in Minnesota this fall. Then he bounces back too. We have Polanco back, and for a full year. Eddie is back, and Keps and Mauer (hopefully) and Castro. Not a bad lineup. We need to figure out 2b. I am optimistic that EE will be back. Cave, Ehire and Garver as subs.

I think you miss my point. I am talking about cornerstone players and wanting to attract FA players that are studs, not utility guys. I am talking about building block players, not marginals and bubble players that are lucky to have a job. Those guys are a dime a dozen. Grossman is a AAA player who get the Kubel treatment. Does he deserve loyalty? Sure. And nobody would say the Twins have cheated that guy. He is about as good as thousands of guys who are playing slow pitch softball. But he is a marginal bubble player, not a guy with otherwordly talent like Buck. If he could catch a fly without spiking himself, I'd be more generous. My point is: When you want to attract good players, difference makers, (Grossman not being really one of those) you make them feel wanted. You don't exploit them or treat them like cattle. Guys on the bubble, well, they aren't difference makers. I mean, does anybody really care if Grossman walks? Cave is a 4th outfielder. I like him, but I wouldn't want him to necessarily sign a long term extension. We got other guys coming up. These guys, I would sign to long termers Sano, Buck, Eddie, Polanco, Berrios, Gibby, Less so but ok with Keps, maybe Austin Waiting for the payoff? Romero, Gonsalves, Short term extensions: Castro (if he returns healthy), Mauer, My point is that it is really, really dumb to treat star caliber guys like misfits. Just try telling your wife she is "good field, no hit" and see how passionate she is after that.

My answer to your questions is "So what?" It is never an "epic blunder" to play your best guys. Buck is our best outfielder. Period. He has some hitting habits he needs to fix, but if he is healthy, as soon as his timing is down he comes up. You don't treat these guys like cattle. You treat them like family and make them want to sign long term extensions.

I disagree either act is "shrewd." I would call them "self defeating" in the long run. I would also consider calling them "short sighted." or maybe "conniving." Like saying "Look, we know how to leverage players...ain't we smart?" Um, no. That's the Calvin Griffith way. You want good players to want to play here you treat them like family. Baseball is a business, but players like to be appreciated.

'Wood, I'm feeling you, and that is what is going to happen. I for one want more Mauer at bats with RISP.

"These are very important players, not to mention very likable players. So it creates an awkward situation when their own best interests conflict with those of the Twins." I don't agree with this at all. This is why there are baseball executives making decisions instead of .... us and..... " I can see why this is a much trickier equation than some make it out to be. Especially when you consider the inherent questions around Buxton's health (which would seemingly benefit from an extra month's rest tacked onto his offseason), and the lack of available playing time in the Twins outfield." Nick, he is our starting center fielder and a platinum glove winner. He is playing in AAA and doing well. He is good to go. Stop talking like he is a Faberge Egg.

OK, well our offense went AWOL tonight. But it didn't matter because our defense was not just bad but stupid. Defense includes pitching -- and strategy -- or lack of same. I think Molly owes an apology to Gibson. I mean, someone explain to me the brilliance of putting on the shift to a lefty pull hitter, with only Eddie on the left side of the field and then pitching outside. I couldn't believe it. Outside. Fine to do that in a regular defensive alignment, but with the shift on? And then, they did it again. Alluvasudden we are down 3-0. Gibson looked confused and he should be. What he shoulda done is call Garver out and say, "I'm throwing in if we have the switch on, get it? Just set up outside and pretend it got away from me." That's what I woulda done. Man, who encourages the batter to hit it towards an open side of the field? Or am I wrong?

I would like to ask May whether he wants a shot at starter or a closer/setup man. I think he is strong enough to go 7 innings most nights. I also see him as a stud closer. I would like to see Romero come up more than Stephen. I just like his stuff better. But the league seemed to solve Romero pretty darn quick. Curious to see if Stephen settles down. I'd like to see Jake Reed get a shot at a pen job. I mean, the guy is an Oregon Duck. What more do you want? But seriously, there are several AAA guys that I hope get the cup of Joe in September. Maybe a couple will stick. I actually see 2019 optimistically. Berrios, Gibby, Pineda, Odo, Romero or May would seem to be a solid staff. Gonsalves on the bubble with Stew and Mejia. Not bad for depth either. Buck and Sano back to normal. Polanco for a whole season. Eddie still solid, Keps improving. Cave as 4th OF/DH and Austin Joe and Sano on a 1b/DH rotation. And I don't mind Forsythe. He seems to be in the middle of a lot of good innings. But resign EE please

Hooorraaaaahhhh!!!! We are lucky to have been fans who got to see these guys play. I never knew about the game ball thing. That's leadership.

A career .306 is not too shabby.

Someone told you it is 100 percent and you don't see it? Maybe you need new glasses.

It seems from reading these posts, and all the ones that came before, that there are basically two groups: the ones who admire Joe and remain big fans and the "what have you done for me lately " people. Put me with the first group. Joe has been awesome for many years and I am grateful that I got to see him play so many games. I hope he gives it at least one more year. As for the negatives or critics, I just don't understand it. I have read criticisms that seem more like accusations of a truly loyal Twin and future Hall of Famer. Things like "Joe is not good at baseball" or that "Joe should be forced to retire" or that "Joe does not work on things in the off season" (as if you know what he does) or "Joe is not clutch" Yeah right. He leads the majors in hitting with RISP. Not clutch? No, not much.... only the best clutch hitter out of hundreds of major leaguers. You just cannot argue with critics that are bound and determined to only see failings and faults and who ignore the good. Put me down with the grateful fans that appreciate what Joe has done and look forward to one more year.

a little unfair to quote stats when he missed a month and its still only August.

You are not a Mauer fan and your view is colored by that.To the point where you don't give him credit for some awesome accomplishments. He is still a great player.

Its worse than that and starting pitchers who need to go 5 innings to claim a win would call it a ridiculous idea. Look at last night's game. Stew goes 4.2 innings and gives way to Buzz for 1 out in the 5th. He loses the ability to win the game as his first major league win. Do you really think this is going to catch on? I don't.

Like I used to tell the kids I coached, "Its OK. It gives me something to tease you about til you die."