Revenge of the Thursday Thunder Dump!

The Twins DON’T suck now (sort of)

Last Thursday, I linked to a story in the Hibbing Daily Tribune in which the writer said he felt the Twins were in worse shape than we thought. This week the story headline proclaims the ”Twins provide excitement.” Although he’s not sold on the Twins’ post-season hopes.

While I am not delusional to the point where I think the Twins will battle for a playoff spot, I do think the team can get close to 75 wins. [...] which is nothing that calls for me to do hand springs around the room.

I think that was written before the last two losses though. Stay tuned!

“Now Boarding, Buxton-is-a-Bust Bandwagon Express. All Aboard!”

Do you dislike Byron Buxton and like stats? Well, you are in luck! Or BABIP or whatever it is you people believe in. Fangraphs’ Dave Cameron wrote an article detailing Byron’s rocky start called “Byron Buxton’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week”.

But the standout thing about Buxton’s first week isn’t just the lack of production; it’s the lack of contact. Seventeen strikeouts in 30 plate appearances is pretty rough.

He even compares Buxton, in a negative light, to Jeff Francoeur. But it wasn’t all doom and gloom.

So, yeah, don’t give up on Byron Buxton just yet. It’s seven games. Good hitters have had terrible seven-game stretches before. Buxton is still young, and his defensive prowess will earn him a long leash, since he doesn’t have to hit a lot to be a good player.

Get yourself a man who can do both

The AP via Boston Herald thinks the Twins might go after Louisville's Brendan McKay, whom they describe as the “total package.” McKay not only swings a bat and plays first base, he also pitches as a lefty and does both well. He has a .336 career BA and an ERA of 1.93.

The Minnesota Twins have the first pick, followed by the Cincinnati Reds. Twins senior scouting adviser Deron Johnson is scheduled to watch McKay in this week's series against Georgia Tech, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

I remember it like it was yesterday...

After hitting his first career grand slam off of the Twins Kyle Gibson, Tigers utility player Andrew Romine was summoned by the MLB for a drug test.

Yeah, turns out it was just a coincidence. Can you imagine how many drug tests MLB would have to do if they tested everyone who hit a home run off of a Twins pitcher?

Zing, zing, zing! Went my hamstrings!

Lastly but not necessarily least, ByungHo Park is back on the DL this time for a pulled hammy.

At least it’s not his wrist again and hamstrings get unstrained, right? Or maybe the Twins are just hellbent on ruining him like they ruined Buxton too.