The Minnesota Twins welcomed back Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton over the weekend . Rocco Baldelli’s lineup has been on fumes for the past handful of weeks. Unfortunately though, Buxton and Correa were out of the game for Minnesota’s 9-2 victory against the Cincinnati Reds.
This is the Minnesota Twins hand right now
There is no denying that the Minnesota Twins needed both Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton back. The centerfielder announced his presence with a home run on Friday night. Correa picked up a quick double on Saturday. Then both players were out of the lineup for Sunday’s 9-2 victory . The reality is that neither is 100% and even a creative rehab process wasn’t going to get them there.
“We have (15) games left, so he was very eager to get himself back on the field and in the lineup. He’s not going to play every game, but I think he can play fairly regularly. We’re going to have to see how he comes out of each game and check on him. He’s going to say he can play every game, but he hasn’t been built up enough to play every game. Getting Buck back is enormous, on the field and in the clubhouse. It means an incredible amount. We all know we are just a better club, and we’re going to win more games when we have that guy healthy on the field and playing.”
Rocco Baldelli on Byron Buxton’s playing time (The Athletic)
“It was part of, on the medical side, what we knew was coming. I mean, Buck was not supposed to play the second game, and he started the second game. He was not going to be out there for a Sunday noon game. We’ve got to get them ready for what’s to come.”
Rocco Baldelli on Byron Buxton sitting Sunday (Star Tribune)
“We brought them back the earliest we reasonably could bring them back. Now we just have to make it work. We’re not going to sit guys purposely to stagger days, I will say that. There might be days where they’re both playing. There might be days where neither is playing, but they’re going to play as much as they can.”
Rocco Baldelli on Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton (Star Tribune)
Rocco Baldelli couldn’t be more straightforward in suggesting that the Twins needed both Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa. The club has struggled to stay afloat in their absence . The ability to hold onto a wild card spot is now imperative, and it’s something they have watched fade. Both superstars being active again is exciting, but it’s a calculated approach down the stretch.
Related: What Can We Reasonably Expect from Minnesota Twins Big Three?
The Twins need to limp into the playoffs and then reset once they get there. It’s likely that both Buxton and Correa will be in every postseason lineup. That can only happen if they make it through the final couple of weeks healthy.
How much have the Twins missed Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa?
Despite Carlos Correa having been out since the All-Star Break , he still remains the team leader in fWAR . He is having the best season of his Twins tenure , and it has bordered on a career year. Minnesota has sorely missed his presence on the field and in the lineup. Youth has tried to fill in , but the production has been irreplaceable. The Twins must find a way for Correa to impact the game in whatever capacity he can down the stretch.
Byron Buxton being out of the lineup has created a similar reality. The centerfielder has posted the second-best season of his career . Offensively Baldelli has played with lackluster options in his spot. Buxton quickly announced the impact of his return with a big fly in his first game back. Similarly to how Minnesota fared without him though, the home run was a footnote in an otherwise frustrating loss.
How much both play during a stretch against the Cleveland Guardians and Boston Red Sox may be telling. The Twins need to take both series in order to position themselves for the postseason . It’s clear Correa and Buxton are competitors that knew their teammates needed them. Their bodies probably aren’t in line with their minds at this point though, and Baldelli will have to protect his star players from that reality.
Related: Clubhouse Vibes are Improving but Twins Clearly Feel the Heat
Minnesota needs to turn the page in the final two weeks and both Correa and Buxton are part of that. A losing September isn’t a welcomed reality, and the final month being the only under .500 this year won’t bode well going into the playoffs.
More must-reads:
Local News
Comments / 0