ewen21

You told me not to panic. What are we talking about here? LOL No panic here. If someone is chasing me with a knife I panic. This is just a hobby and a pastime for me so life goes on if the Twins stink. I don't have to like it, but I won't be "Pollyannic" just for the sake of staying "positive" I don't actually think it's positive to not discuss things that problematic. This bullpen is problematic so it's entirely reasonable to question where things are heading. If you think the atmosphere around here is "too negative" then I don't know what to tell you. I have seen the game day threads through this losing streak and I see a lot of people having a sense of humor about it. Kind of a gallows humor that maybe you aren't comfortable with, and get that. Coming to game day threads helps when this team is getting shellacked like they did against Cincinnati this weekend. I actually caught some funny stuff in here. Maybe some of the same stuff you see as panicking? It's OK. I don't think anyone is going to jump off a building. LOL! I am not betting on Rodney to be that much this year. If he is a functional reliever who doesn't destroy too many games then OK. I am not expecting him to be much better than that. Is that panicking by your standard?

Rodney is 41 years old. He was terrible in 2016 and only OK last year. To expect him to be a "good closer" at this stage of his career makes no sense to me. Sorry. Reed CAN be a good set up man WILL is another story. Relief pitching is incredibly streaky from one year to the next. I think CAN BE is far more reasonable than WILL BE. I am not going to put my money on will be just yet, As far as Busenitz and Curtis goes, I think it is far more reasonable to say MAY help rather than will help. Busentiz was decent last year, but he has no real track record. And who really knows with Lynn right now? I thought it was a good move to sign him, but he doesn't look good at all. He pitched fairly well in the National League. Does it mean he is will do the same here? I am just not sure. I question the "he will be fine" angle here. Who the heck is panicking? I'm not. Things will be what they will be. Keep telling yourself everything is going to work out. Me? I don't make that assumption. I watch these guys and if it doesn't work out I make moves accordingly. It's not a sound methodology to sit back with Rodney for very long and say.... "Oh he'll be fine!". If he continues to have dumpster fire outings I consider releasing him or demoting him to another role. Closer? I am far from confident in his ability to hold that down. IF you are then go ahead and be that guy

Everything is going to be "fine"?? What does that even mean?

Joe with his first RBI in over two weeks.

Plenty of room for concern with his offensive game, however, the injury thing is very concerning.

When I read this after his batting practice session Friday night , there was no way in Hell I would have had him playing live baseball on Sunday. THat is just me. http://www.1500espn.com/twins/2018/04/byron-buxton-takes-bp-first-time-since-onset-migraines/ Buxton is still suffering from “pounding” in his head, but said symptoms such as dizziness and blurred vision have gotten better. “Usually I can tolerate them a little more to not affect my mood or how I come to the field,” he said. “This one, first day, once I got to the field (in Puerto Rico) and felt the pounding of the music, it really kicked into effect.” Buxton, who estimated he’d slept 40 hours over the past few nights, said flying from San Juan to Tampa was not pleasant, but that he was able to get a prescription once in Tampa that helped with his symptoms. The plan for now may be for Buxton to get some at-bats in the minor leagues, perhaps staying in Florida for a rehab stint with High-A Fort Myers.

I am definitely overthinking this, but I would rather overthink than "underthink" Pretty much my thought process although the specialists need to be on top of this and be careful not to overlook things

One thing I do know about the big toe is that it takes lots of time for it to heal. This will take more than a month

Yes, I know that. However, the 10 day DL for "head issues" should be treated differently. The Twins needed to rely on Buxton's assessment and I don't doubt he was saying "I'm OK" when he might not have been. Not sure why he wasn't given more time. He took batting practice for the first time only two days before and he said he was not 100%. If I am hearing that he isn't getting on the field until he is SURE his blurred vision or uneasiness is clear for at least two consecutive days. He isn't getting on the field on Sunday to play live baseball if on Friday he's in the cage talking about things aren't clear yet. At least that is how I felt and this isn't hindsight

I was confused as to why he started playing in live games. He was listed on the 10 DL and few days later he's playing live baseball. It is a head-scratcher to me. Maybe someone can explain the thinking behind this because I just don't get it

I only ask because I thought the same as a possibility.

I was wondering if that were the case. Do you have experience in this area?

The toe thing is odd to me. He fouled a pitch off his foot. They said it was swollen, and even told us they drilled a hole in it to alleviate the pain last week. Then days later we hear there is a fracture. Did they not check for structural damage after it happened LAST SUNDAY? It took a week to determine this???

No Twins fan enjoys this. I am frustrated with Buxton at this point. I have read countless articles over the last six years about his speed and potential, etc...etc....etc.. I wasn't the one building up expectations or rating him the #1 prospect. Neither were you. If I see another "Byron Buxton is REALLY Fast" article/breakdown I think I might hit the roof. I will say my frustration with him started in earnest before this season began. I did not like the headline, or what this article implied. Seemed to me it was preparation for lost season filled with all sorts of injuries: http://www.inforum.com/sports/baseball/4424155-wall-colliding-twins-speedster-byron-buxton-takes-pride-his-ability-play

If you're in your 50s and remember the first days of MTV. 1982 was such a nice year Let's go! Let's go! American Workers!!

I'm about to do just that. Been up since 5AM. When I wake up maybe we by then we won

If they lose this one..........

There once was a boy named Joe Mauer, In tight situations he'd cower, His obsession with walks spurred many long talks And so did his odd lack of power

No one says it is HIS FAULT, but can we admit he has tailed off since he became Mr. 2,000? (6 for 35 with no runs driven in) And if you want to talk about what he's done in the last eight games how about what he has done with his bat? Everyone knows he loves to walk, but it is getting a little old watching him go up there with the being his primary objective. Since the losing streak he is 4 for 25 with one extra base hit and no RBI. Last night he walked the first three times he was up. In his fourth at bat he took the first two pitches for strikes with two runners on and two out. The game was getting away from us and he was in take mode until he had two strikes on him. That to me was a very hard at bat to watch. Why even take a bat to the box?

He needs to every once in a while acknowledge the circumstances and adjust accordingly. If he cannot/will not do that then he deserves criticism just like any other player who can't or won't adjust to the circumstances.

It was boiling inside of me for the last 48 hours. I just could not take it anymore. Things are what they are and I don't see it as a positive to use a "glass half full" perspective today. Why not just discuss what is real? When the team is in an 8 game losing streak and things go down the way they have no sense beating around the bush. These players made the point for me. I did not go out of my way to be a "Debbie Downer". Just calling it like it is.

I am beyond frustrated with a lot of this young talent right now. Rosario is going to be a guy who chases pitches and has a big looping swing. He's looking more like Jacque Jones everyday. Not a bad player but.....He and Sano are going to be feast or famine guys and there has been plenty of famine thus far. They are not kids anymore. Rosario is 26 and Miguel is soon to turn 25. Sano has been in the league long enough now to know better and he seems to be stuck in a holding pattern. It doesn't seem he is going to hit for any kind of average, he is way too heavy and he strikes out way too much. Add to that the offseason allegations and it is very concerning. I am very disappointed in Polanco. I thought the guy was a polished player. He seemed smart and yet he is busted for STEROIDS? So now he misses half a season. Brilliant job. What kind of BS is that?? And then there is Byron Buxton. I don't know what it is, but so many Twins fans look the other way with this guy because he has already been anointed. I see so many holes in his game and to not be worried about him at this point is irrational to me. The guy's game is predicated on his speed and that isn't going to last. He isn't going to last long playing defense like a Kamakaze and that kind of thing seems to be a source of pride for him. He really needs to reign it in or his career will come to an end fast. The injuries are already mounting and he just cannot seem to pull it together offensively. Sure, he has had a few streaks that lasted a month or so, but on the balance his bat has been subpar (and that is being kind). He was billed as a five tool player. He is most certainly not that. I don't care how many circus catches he makes and how fast he is. If his OPS is going hover around .700 he is not a complete player. These four players were supposed to be an integral part of this lineup and in my view, these four are a major MAJOR disappointment thus far. I don't like to lump players together like this, but when people were talking about this offense and what it could do a lot of weight was put on these four. Molitor and his staff inherit a lot of the blame for this, in my opinion. I think the mindset in that clubhouse is way WAY off. When you have your longest tenured veteran deciding to bunt in his first at bat in a series at Yankee Stadium you have problems. There was literally no dialogue about that for some reason. The chances of Joe successfully laying down a bunt there was less than 20%, I guarantee you that. I'll eat my hat if he has more than a handful of bunt hits in his entire career. He had a much better chance just standing in there giving a professional at bat. Instead he did that and all his teammates got to see just how mentally invested he was in turning around their fortunes. After all the years of losing there THAT is what he does. Not a good tone setter. And for Molitor to not openly question that is wrong. He could have said, "I wish Joe would have given us an at bat there rather than attempting a bunt" Simple constructive criticism you would expect from a manager. It makes you wonder if he is anything more than a figurehead. If you are trying to bring along young players that is the last thing you want. This is a very confused bunch under Molitor. Seems he can only shrug his shoulders. He and his staff has done a very poor job this year. A very poor job.

That and Votto's OPS is just weee bit higher than Joe's the last eight seasons or so. Just a little. But they both walk and are both named Joe so...ya know

He already walked three times and here he is with a chance to do something with his bat. Nope. He is going to take strikes until he gets two strikes on him. Sheesh

Walks nice, but RBIs are better right now Joe