tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post6280403258677462998..comments2023-12-19T20:25:36.069-06:00Comments on Nick's Twins Blog: OK, So I Might Not Hate Drew ButeraNick N.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00848574337121154690noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-39995775226950444682010-08-19T07:20:54.823-05:002010-08-19T07:20:54.823-05:00Nick I am so happy with the way you wrote this. T...Nick I am so happy with the way you wrote this. These playoff races, that SABRmetrics and statistical stuff are a huge part of what make baseball great, but at the end of the day there's an unquantifiable spirit of happiness in the game that truly makes it great. You just put a large smile on my face Nick...great job.tmeyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01885808662512081833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-9997449428443242172010-08-18T10:27:34.201-05:002010-08-18T10:27:34.201-05:00Any comparison with Tim Laudner?Any comparison with Tim Laudner?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-81667556745029215982010-08-18T09:09:25.610-05:002010-08-18T09:09:25.610-05:00Great post, Nick. I agree completely. And, as for ...Great post, Nick. I agree completely. And, as for the comparisons/contrasts between Butera and Punto, I say that it's a lot easier to "appreciate the scrappy underdog" when he's only starting once or twice a week versus five or six times (not to mention, as with Punto often times last year, batting 2nd in the line-up).Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10611879477156809109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-46085837492564679322010-08-17T18:26:13.951-05:002010-08-17T18:26:13.951-05:00"The stats and numbers are important and they..."The stats and numbers are important and they tell an unbiased tale of what has happened on the field"<br /><br />Actually they don't. They NEVER include context. Particularly at any level of aggrigation.<br /><br />You could list a box score for one of the teams with or without names, AND it would be a guess IF the team won or lost. Even with your line there is NO WAY to know IF you had a good or bad season or career.<br /><br />You can list complete season team stats blind, and there is no way (other than lucky guess) what the actual record went with those stats.<br /><br />Also, welcome to the real world. Players tend to be human, even some bloggers are human. Prescient insights, spectacular plays, and yes, mind numbing blunders on both sides.<br /><br />Regards,<br /><br />David McGrawAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-74756710671492291492010-08-17T13:52:41.896-05:002010-08-17T13:52:41.896-05:00and if your going to have a player just sitting on...<i>and if your going to have a player just sitting on the bench wouldn't you rather have morales who showed last year that he is an effective pinch hitter?</i><br /><br />The Twins will be able to carry more bench players in the playoffs (since you can get by with fewer pitchers thanks to all the days off), so they'll be able to carry Morales and Butera if they want to.Nick N.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00848574337121154690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-64313266802746909932010-08-17T12:56:13.652-05:002010-08-17T12:56:13.652-05:00He is a breath of fresh air and seems to be free a...<i>He is a breath of fresh air and seems to be free and clear of ego or arrogance.</i><br /><br />Totally agree. I met him at TwinsFest and he was very friendly, and when he was done with his autograph session with the other minor leaguers, he was willing to take a picture with my girlfriend because she thought he was cute. Plus, I'll take his "good glove, no bat" over Jose Morales' "good bat, no glove."Bryzhttp://weareoffthemark.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-48135682354459473142010-08-17T12:53:22.960-05:002010-08-17T12:53:22.960-05:00Jackson, I should have said Punto is arrogantly ob...Jackson, I should have said Punto is arrogantly oblivious to both his role and his talents. He seems to think he is both blazingly fast and brilliantly intuitive when it comes to baserunning, neither of which is true. <br /><br />In addition to the 2 horrific mistakes you mentioned (proof positive that he absolutely without a doubt does the little things very wrong), he had an equally baffling blunder vs. Baltimore this year where he went all the way to 2nd on a fly to left, took a few steps back toward 1st, then went a few steps past 2nd before getting doubled up at first. I can't possibly fathom what he was thinking, but it obviously wasn't anything in the realm of reality.<br /><br />Sort of like his (excuse after the ALDS last year (I paraphrase): "I thought because of the crowd noise it was a hit, so I decided to run right through my base coach's stop sign." One of the most idiotic things I've ever heard in pro sports.<br /><br />So yeah, thank you Drew Butera for showing us what it really means to be fundamentally solid.Ed Bastnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-38679856614612920922010-08-17T12:39:12.884-05:002010-08-17T12:39:12.884-05:00i have a question for you. what do the twins do w...i have a question for you. what do the twins do with butera in the playoffs? there are plenty of days off so mauer shouldn't need any rest days. the backup catcher will be there for emergency use only in case mauer gets hurt. and if your going to have a player just sitting on the bench wouldn't you rather have morales who showed last year that he is an effective pinch hitter?<br /><br />butera has been pavano's personal catcher but in the playoff's you have to think mauer will be catching him.menoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-46630017258324594282010-08-17T12:29:41.426-05:002010-08-17T12:29:41.426-05:00Gardy's really in a box now because he's g...<i>Gardy's really in a box now because he's going to have to sit a clearly better player to keep punto on the field.</i><br /><br />We'll see about that. I think it's going to be pretty tough for Gardenhire to sit Valencia with the way he's hitting.Nick N.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00848574337121154690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-2521882320907671182010-08-17T12:11:25.927-05:002010-08-17T12:11:25.927-05:00Punto seems arrogantly ignorant to more than his r...Punto seems arrogantly ignorant to more than his role on the team. He's a horrible baserunner too. His blunder in game 3 of the a.l.d.s and his not understanding he had to score on a sacrfice fly before span tagging to 3rd was thrown out(this year vs. royals) were the two worst baserunning gaffes i've ever seen a major leaguer make.(span has potential to eclipse these) <br /><br />He is what he is and that's a fantastic glove a 3 positions. He shouldn't start more than twice per week or he's a liability. I dont care how many walks he draws, he's a .248 hitter with absolutely no power. Gardy's really in a box now because he's going to have to sit a clearly better player to keep punto on the field.<br /><br />Jackson TorseJackson Torsenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-7724062591127891862010-08-17T11:24:49.117-05:002010-08-17T11:24:49.117-05:00Nice piece. I kind of enjoy watching Butera too, f...Nice piece. I kind of enjoy watching Butera too, for a lot of the same reasons. Seems like a great guy and all that. But he still just doesn't have any business on a big league roster. Just the facts (as I see 'em)...Billhttp://theplatoonadvantage.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-7841167013079864722010-08-17T11:15:42.676-05:002010-08-17T11:15:42.676-05:00Punto is arrogantly oblivious to his role on the t...<i>Punto is arrogantly oblivious to his role on the team; Butera embraces it and does whatever he can to help the team win. </i><br /><br />I don't know if I hold the same animosity toward Punto (he works at-bats and takes walks, which is his biggest offensive strength), I would agree that Butera seems to really be embracing his limited role and doing everything he can to succeed in that role. It's refreshing.<br /><br /><i>I liked Mike Redmond a lot. But there is no doubt that the Twins upgraded their back up catcher spot with Butera this season replacing "RedDog".</i><br /><br />Great point. While Butera doesn't give you much offensively, it's easy to forget that the Twins got by with a .237/.299/.289 line from Redmond last year, which is no worse than one might expect from Drew, and Butera's a better defender.Nick N.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00848574337121154690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-6234479419505260252010-08-17T10:46:01.901-05:002010-08-17T10:46:01.901-05:00Good piece, Nick.
People tend to forget just how ...Good piece, Nick.<br /><br />People tend to forget just how GOOD a player has to be to even get a minor league shot, never mind some time in the Show. If you measure every catcher against Joe Mauer, there won't be many guys you consider worthy of playing time.<br /><br />I believe Butera is responsible for Pavano giving up fewer successful stolen bases. He's also a hitter capable of taking advantage when a pitcher makes a mistake. And when a pitcher starts thinking "I can't walk a .200 hitter," he tends to make a few mistakes.<br /><br />I liked Mike Redmond a lot. But there is no doubt that the Twins upgraded their back up catcher spot with Butera this season replacing "RedDog".JimCrikkethttp://www.knuckleballsblog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-49477750780473506032010-08-17T10:11:23.434-05:002010-08-17T10:11:23.434-05:00Butera is an asset to this team. Not a liability....Butera is an asset to this team. Not a liability. Don't be blinded by the bad hitting line. The line of a team't #9 hitting catcher is not as important as his defense. Plain and simple. Butera is an average backup catcher all things considered. He has helped stabilize our rotation while letting Mauer rest without us losing ground due to the bat. <br /><br />Part of this is luck. Of course. But you know what Gardy's #1 reason for success is his ability to create team chemistry and Butera is the type of guy that helps this. I mean, the team rallies behind this kid. Same with Thome. You pull together guys behind this type of player. <br /><br />I'm probably overstating Butera's value. He's a backup catcher and probably will never be more. But I think he's a dang good backup catcher. Plus there isn't any reason his bat can't get better.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-44190262434220766552010-08-17T10:00:40.341-05:002010-08-17T10:00:40.341-05:00Beautiful piece --- thank you.Beautiful piece --- thank you.Bennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-17757293980014336252010-08-17T09:39:22.226-05:002010-08-17T09:39:22.226-05:00Great article. I share your sentiments exactly. Bu...Great article. I share your sentiments exactly. But I can't help but knowing that if we weren't pulling oh so slightly away (come on home sweep!), would I still be hearting him?Dunnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13171098461968367350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-75004351787245112162010-08-17T08:36:10.405-05:002010-08-17T08:36:10.405-05:00There's no reason to dislike Butera. He gets t...There's no reason to dislike Butera. He gets the most out of his talent and he understands that this role that he's playing is the best he could ever have a shot at other than everyday catcher filling in for an injured starting catcher. Fans sometimes forget that it isn't the player's fault when he's being given a larger role than he should by his manager and that frustration sometimes turns into dislike for a player. Butera has to hustle and be smart and play great defense and with heart and energy, or he would never get out of A ball, let alone get to the major leagues.SoCalTwinsfannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-26791283582562031212010-08-17T08:01:18.007-05:002010-08-17T08:01:18.007-05:00Love the little league analogy....as far as Butera...Love the little league analogy....as far as Butera, the guy seems to hold no illusions as to his role but is making the most of it and contributing. Not bad for a tag-along in the Castillo trade.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00674008560421209151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-84601414748779505532010-08-17T07:51:51.890-05:002010-08-17T07:51:51.890-05:00I've got to admit, I've come around a litt...I've got to admit, I've come around a little on Butera too, in that it doesn't make me terribly upset anymore when he's in the lineup. Sure, he's an awful hitter, but earlier in the year he looked like he was going to cry every time he came up to the plate; he seems to be past that now, at least.<br /><br />But what I respect about him most is that unlike the club's other defensively sound/offensively inept player, Nick Punto, Butera understands and embraces his role. He understands he isn't a great hitter, so he works at bunting, situational hitting, etc. Whereas Punto is a terrible bunter, thinks he's a much better hitter than he is, is stupidly aggressive on the bases, swings out of his shoes when a sac fly is needed, etc. Punto is arrogantly oblivious to his role on the team; Butera embraces it and does whatever he can to help the team win. Might not be much, but unlike LNP he actually does do "all the little things" right.Ed Bastnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-12367813501139099482010-08-17T05:52:17.849-05:002010-08-17T05:52:17.849-05:00He is a breath of fresh air and seems to be free a...He is a breath of fresh air and seems to be free and clear of ego or arrogance. I doubt he takes much for granted even though he is going to be the 2nd catcher for as far as anyone can see and deserving so. He's answered a lot of critics and something tells me this guy is going to come up huge in a big time spot this year. He's got that "gamer" quality. Good piece!<br />col. fletcher proutyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-72709266875902257482010-08-17T00:03:04.974-05:002010-08-17T00:03:04.974-05:00...or catching a Jim Thome homer and then hitting ......or catching a Jim Thome homer and then hitting one of his own the next inningBeaunoreply@blogger.com