I finally got a break that seems like a break. Half of it was spent on laundry, but whatever.
17 thoughts on “May 16, 2016: The Long Weekend”
Fifty years ago today, both Pet Sounds and Blonde on Blonde were released (h/t Chris Jaffe)
Currently wishing I brought my good headphones to work today. Pet Sounds is such a beautiful album, one of my favorites.
Apparently, the reason Buxton has to stay in the minors is to work on his bunting.
Whelp. Can't wait until he gets traded for a all star shortstop (who will himself get traded for a relief pitcher after one season), only to become a perennial all star, himself.
This whole article is either Molitor talking out of his ass to toe the company line or it reveals complete ignorance to good baseball. I hope it's the former, but that's also a depressing thought.
Just in case you had forgotten, the comments on a Strib article are still a metaphorical dumpster fire.
I think you're putting too much emphasis on one of many comments. He said he "hasn't heard" about his bunting, which is one of several things they wanted him to work on. Molitor can look at stats that tell him about Buxton cutting down on his K rate and of course Buxton getting on base better. Molitor just hasn't had a report on what bunting Buxton has done.
Molitor hasn't talked with general manager Terry Ryan about when Buxton will be back up, but said that if he keeps it going, he'll certainly be considered.
All this sounds like is they want Buxton to continue to have success for an extended period, which seems reasonable as long as the period is reasonable.
When he gives some positive comments and then says, but I've haven't heard about this, I don't think it's unreasonable to assume that what follows "but" is considered a significant concern. Also, on yesterday's radio pregame, Rob Antony went out of his way to talk about how Buxton needs to work on his bunting while at AAA. So it seems to me that it's the Twins who are putting too much emphasis on this, not me.
LEN3 talked with Brad Steil, the minor league director:
``I think he’s off to a good start in terms of making some adjustments, but it’s hard to say how long this process will be,'' Steil said, the Twins director of minor league operations. ``He’s gone back to using a leg kick, so it will probably take some time to get that timing back. He’s also working on staying through the ball more (with his swing), with the goal being more consistent hard contact.
``As that improves, he will get on base more and his speed will be in play more. He has the ability to drive the ball to the gaps, so we’re not looking for him to just put the ball on the ground and run. With his speed, he can occasionally bunt for hits, so that will be one piece of his game.''
The bit about the leg kick, which I heard on the radio, too, has me curious. It sounds like he used to have a leg kick, abandoned it, and now is using it again. Is that right? If so, I'm wondering whose idea it was for him to drop it, when it was dropped, and why.
I am glad to hear that they don't want him just hitting ground balls, because that was kind of a DickandBert mantra about Buxton early in the season.
From an interview with Parker Hageman in March:
“I went into the offseason last year and picked up a little bit of a leg kick, not too big,” Buxton said of his subtle change. “I want to keep [the leg kick] where it's at -- not too big, not trying to being overpowering. Keep me back behind the ball. Keep my head still. It's more for me to get that edge to make contact a little bit more, try to hit the ball hard and more consistent.”
With the new leg kick, Buxton is going back to his roots. Before he was drafted by the Twins he displayed an open stance with a leg kick but that was changed shortly after he entered the organization. “They changed me in rookie ball,” he says of the switch. “They closed me up and tried to slow down some of my movement a bit.”
Buxton would be awesome if he had a quality bunt in his arsenal, too.
Sure. I'm not opposed to him becoming a good bunter. I just don't think he has to stay in AAA to learn that.
Cool new children's book alert: The William Hoy Story. I got a peek at it last week, and it's nicely done. Plus, I learned something new while reading it!
Yo, I sent you a mail. Let me know if you have any suggestions.
Sturgill Simpson announced a date at the Fargo Theatre in August. This would be very exciting if it were not for the fact that J & I have tickets to the Boyz II Men & En Vogue show that's also in town that night. That same night, Melvins are playing in town too. I sometimes go months without seeing a show that's interesting to me in town. Three on the same damn night? Ugh.
I think I'll get tickets for Sturgill in Winnipeg two nights after the Fargo show. I'm glad that's an option.
The sturg just announced a new orleans date, and I'm scrambling to find a presale code.... where's free when I need him?
Fifty years ago today, both Pet Sounds and Blonde on Blonde were released (h/t Chris Jaffe)
Currently wishing I brought my good headphones to work today. Pet Sounds is such a beautiful album, one of my favorites.
Apparently, the reason Buxton has to stay in the minors is to work on his bunting.
Whelp. Can't wait until he gets traded for a all star shortstop (who will himself get traded for a relief pitcher after one season), only to become a perennial all star, himself.
This whole article is either Molitor talking out of his ass to toe the company line or it reveals complete ignorance to good baseball. I hope it's the former, but that's also a depressing thought.
Just in case you had forgotten, the comments on a Strib article are still a metaphorical dumpster fire.
I think you're putting too much emphasis on one of many comments. He said he "hasn't heard" about his bunting, which is one of several things they wanted him to work on. Molitor can look at stats that tell him about Buxton cutting down on his K rate and of course Buxton getting on base better. Molitor just hasn't had a report on what bunting Buxton has done.
All this sounds like is they want Buxton to continue to have success for an extended period, which seems reasonable as long as the period is reasonable.
When he gives some positive comments and then says, but I've haven't heard about this, I don't think it's unreasonable to assume that what follows "but" is considered a significant concern. Also, on yesterday's radio pregame, Rob Antony went out of his way to talk about how Buxton needs to work on his bunting while at AAA. So it seems to me that it's the Twins who are putting too much emphasis on this, not me.
LEN3 talked with Brad Steil, the minor league director:
The bit about the leg kick, which I heard on the radio, too, has me curious. It sounds like he used to have a leg kick, abandoned it, and now is using it again. Is that right? If so, I'm wondering whose idea it was for him to drop it, when it was dropped, and why.
I am glad to hear that they don't want him just hitting ground balls, because that was kind of a DickandBert mantra about Buxton early in the season.
From an interview with Parker Hageman in March:
Buxton would be awesome if he had a quality bunt in his arsenal, too.
Sure. I'm not opposed to him becoming a good bunter. I just don't think he has to stay in AAA to learn that.
Cool new children's book alert: The William Hoy Story. I got a peek at it last week, and it's nicely done. Plus, I learned something new while reading it!
Yo, I sent you a mail. Let me know if you have any suggestions.
Sturgill Simpson announced a date at the Fargo Theatre in August. This would be very exciting if it were not for the fact that J & I have tickets to the Boyz II Men & En Vogue show that's also in town that night. That same night, Melvins are playing in town too. I sometimes go months without seeing a show that's interesting to me in town. Three on the same damn night? Ugh.
I think I'll get tickets for Sturgill in Winnipeg two nights after the Fargo show. I'm glad that's an option.
The sturg just announced a new orleans date, and I'm scrambling to find a presale code.... where's free when I need him?