Comments on: Offseason Recap

By: FunBobby

FunBobby — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 13:36:30 +0000

I guess its not punto’s fault Gardy plays him even when he is in a severe slump. But the minute Kubel or Young or Gomez hit a little speed bump its “to the bench!” Its really not fair. Also, its not fair to use Rob Deer as a basis for comparison, because he hit a bunch of homers, even though his average was around the Mendoza line.

By: Marv

Marv — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 04:28:37 +0000

I suspect we’d all be easier on Punto but for Gardy’s insistence on playing him even when his BA is hovering near Rob Deer territory. If Punto hits .270+ and fields like he has been lately it will be a good year for him and for the Twins at SS. Let’s have it go that way!

By: FunBobby

FunBobby — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:29:39 +0000

I probably get just as much, if not more, pain from watching Punto fail to get bunts down. That is equally inexcsuable. Buscher hits well, but can’t make routine play on defense. Punto fields well, but can’t do the routine things at the plate. Neither is worse than the other, they are both maddening.

By: Erica

Erica — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:23:56 +0000

Punto's a crap shoot- but it's not like he's unable to be a good player. 50/50 chance he has a good year. And regardless of his batting line, Punto's defense has been steadily above-average. I'm choosing to hope for the best, and I don't think it's too unrealistic.

(But Buscher had better not chuck any balls into the stands this season. It's too painful to watch.)

By: sirsean

sirsean — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:10:47 +0000

Yes, and there's the rub. If Punto hits like he did last season, there's nothing to complain about. Nothing wrong with a 100 OPS+ and average defense. Those players aren't exactly easy to come by.

The problem is that he's only had a season like that twice, and both of them were in contract years. It's not exactly likely that his 2009 will be like his 2008 or his 2006. He'll more likely be back to his 2007 or 2005 self. IE, one of the crappier players in the league.

By: Erica

Erica — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 20:59:46 +0000

That's why I specified PUNTO's dives into first. Mauer or Morneau go down= season over. My point is, both Punto and Buscher have a specific flaw that fans can pinpoint, obsess over, and talk about whenever that player's name is mentioned. Punto= sliding into first, Buscher= wild throws to first, Delmon= never takes a first pitch, Gomez= free swinger, Mauer= no home runs, etc.

I'm not Punto's number-one fan, but if he plays his usual good defense with a batting line close to last season's, we really can't complain too much.

By: sirsean

sirsean — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 20:34:44 +0000

That really depends on who's doing the diving into first.

If Mauer or Morneau dove into first, that would be much, much worse than anyone throwing wild to first. If either of them breaks their thumb, the team is virtually crippled for six weeks.

I don't care how much you like Punto, he's simply not THAT valuable to the team. If he hurts himself it's an inconvenience, not a tragedy.

I'd say that throwing wild to first is worse than Punto diving into first. You're a major league infielder. Make a throw.

By: Erica

Erica — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 20:29:52 +0000

I think Buscher’s wild throws to first are like Punto’s dives into first- they don’t happen that often, but they make people absolutely crazy. (I’m personally more upset with wild throws to first because they can allow runs to score.)

By: FunBobby

FunBobby — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 20:07:56 +0000

I also think the Harris/Bucscher platoon will be fine. Buscher isn’t great in the field, but he isn’t as bad as everyone thinks. Especially with Jesus reincarnate playing short, we probably don’t even need a thirdbaseman. Punto is like fred smoot, he covers 25% of the earth, the rest is covered by water. Oh wait, that isn’t true.

By: sirsean

sirsean — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 20:00:34 +0000

Yes, Stewart’s contract was much larger, but he was not a free agent acquisition, we traded for him in mid-season and then extended him that offseason.