Monday Morning Minnesota: Buxton improves everything, including Kyle Gibson

Welcome to the Labor Day edition of MonMorMin. I’m your host, person getting payed to not be at work. Do NOT listen to this week’s soundtrack. I’m not kidding! This is a test of your loyalty and failures will be driven crazy.

• Good ol’ Mikey B. explores how choking up on the bat has been key to Byron Buxton’s late season breakout.
• We all know Buxton has been a big help on the field and at the plate, but he’s also somehow been a help on the mound. As he might be the reason Kyle Gibson is less of a poop-tier pitcher lately. Personally though, I think we should not forget about Gibson’s magical balls he got from the mystical waterfall monk.
• I tried to find a third Twins-based link that was even remotely interesting, but I have failed you all. Before you dish out my truly deserved punishment, I’ve got a fun little tidbit for you. Per fangraphs, the Twins started the season with a 5% chance of making the postseason. They now stand at at an 47.8% mark that I feel still undersells them a bit.
• Eli Ben-Porat of the Hardball Times recently posted two articles presenting visual cases FOR and AGAINST the designated hitter. While it is only a matter of time before the DH is a universal thing, the argument is still as hot as ever, and the articles make for good reading.

Bye!