d-mac

I think Duffey can be a #3 starter, which is more valuable than pitching out of the bullpen in any role. For his career as a MLB starter he's put up a xFIP of 3.82 and a SIERA of 3.98. The only reason he struggled last year was his redonkulous HR/FB% of 19.5%. For even the most homer prone starter that is unsustainably high. Comparing his (very SSS) underlying peripheral stats as a reliever to his starting career there is no difference in K%, a slight decrease in his already solid BB%, but career high hard hit% and career low soft hit%. Literally, the only reason he looks so much better in the bullpen than in the rotation is going from a 19.5% HR/FB last year to 0% this year.

We'll see. He's got a 4.76 xFIP and according to xStats he's 10th out the 13 Twins pitchers in average exit velocity (Rogers, Hughes, and Breslow have higher exit velocities) with an expected BABIP of .311. Not to mention he's sitting at a career low K% so far this season.

The lowest BABIP last year by a qualified starter was .234 by Marco Estrada and the lowest HR/FB% was 8.4 by Johnny Cueto. So even if he matches those numbers that's more three times as many hits and almost twice as many home runs. League average BABIP was .298 last year. And how much longer do you expect that outfield to stay intact with Buxton and Rosario having sub .400 OPS's?

Let's revisit this when his .074 BABIP and 4.8% HR/FB rate normalize.

I was following the game at work. Gameday took a major dump during the game and was out for several innings. Then when it started working again the pitch data was missing. So I wouldn't read too much into it.

It's tough to say this about someone his age, but I think it's a make or break year for Buxton. If he can't figure it out this year, he's likely destined to be nothing more than a 4th outfielder.

This was a comment on that article. LOL

http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2017/4/11/15247404/byron-buxton-minnesota-twins-strikeout-problem Woof. Pretty good analysis on Buxton's struggles. I'm starting to think more and more he'll never figure it out.

Definitely. And I'm certainly enjoying the run they've had. There is a lot of good. But Sano, Castro, Polanco. and Escobar are not going to hit at double the league average production for the rest of the season. And while the Twins' bullpen is 6th in MLB in xFIP (3.08), once the starting staff regresses I don't know how the bullpen will keep that production up.

I know early wins are exciting, but let's not get ahead of ourselves here folks! The great pitching won't continue, the Twins' starters are second to last in xFIP (5.04). They have had some crazy BABIP luck (.198) and near the top in LOB% and bottom on HR/FB%. While the defense is outstanding the OF has contributed -0.6 fWAR so far. They are dead last in MLB with a combined .151/.205/.192 which is good for a wRC+ of 6(!). The next lowest OF is the Giants at 30 wRC+. Not to mention they have the highest K% of any MLB outfield at 35.4%. Buxton, Kepler, and Rosario all had really poor batted ball profiles last year. So I'm not sure they're ever going to hit much this year. And no, no amount of outstanding defense can make up for a .151/.205/.192 hitting line.

Not everyone's wife is high maintenance.

The wife and I went to Green Mill last night. Got leftover pizza for tonight. I know you're totally jelly.

Personally I think of this: http://img.memecdn.com/steriotypical-chicago_o_2952959.jpg OR this: http://www.kappit.com/img/pics/201701_0640_dfhih_sm.jpg

That's likely social, I'd imagine. If you're a tall pitcher, you're likely given more chances to start, because, well dammit, that's the way it's always been done! The same way short pitchers are likely "encouraged" to play other positions- there's a social stigma.

Height is really a non issue. http://sabr.org/research/does-pitcher-s-height-matter

Yeah, my bad. I knew how to spell it and got lazy about checking my work.

One of the big negatives on Greene is that he's a fastball only pitcher. His curveball isn't a quality pitch yet. He is so overhyped.

No. But I do have a problem with young kids doing things so damaging to their arms (like throwing 100mph @17) before their bodies fully mature. Greene is going to have a lifetime of arm problems ahead. At 1-1 you can't screw up. There is a reason there has never been a high school righty taken there. Too much risk. And it's not like Bukauskas is the second coming of Nick Blackburn. He's got a near 40% K rate in the second best conference in college.

Man if the Twins could grab him with their second pick! But I bet some smart team will take him in the first round and offer him discount money.

Faedo was my guy preseason. But with the drop in velo (huge red flag) I'm on board with Bukaukis. His height is a non issue for me. The problem with Greene for me has always been that by the time that he's up Sano, Buxton, Kepler, Rosario, etc are all likely to be free agents. Not to mention a 17 year old throwing 100 screams arm injuries to me.

LOL. SSSSEEEEEECCCCC PAAWWWWLLLL!!!!

Unless you follow college sports. That s*** is real. It's unbelievable clustermuck of incompetence and favoritism.

And the pitcher wasn't ejected?

We're going streaking through the quad!!!