Minnesota Twins Shortstop Nick Punto provides relief to his team injured. Thank Manager Gardenhire for deciding to stop the bleeding. There hasn’t been progress this season for Nick Punto. He is batting his worst AVG ever and holds one of the worst On Base Percentages in MLB.
In every season with at-least 40 games played or 90 at bats, Nick Punto has averaged better than his pitiful 187 AVG in 2009. His departure from the Twins organization will allow the team a better chance at victory.
Nick Punto on the disabled list with a sore groin muscle is our benefit. Manager Gardenhire blamed Punto’s injury on his poor play but then ask the question, “Why did Punto play so poorly when not injured?”
Twins fans understand Punto is a role player who might have worn out his role. The Twins look to secure the AL Central with help but Nick Punto doesn’t provide help. He is a hinderance and now his contract a salary drag. It would be best to use the $500,000 buyout clause in his contract and rid ourselves.
Until that buyout happens we can be thankful Punto is replaced by Alexi Casilla. Casilla began the season at 2nd base and ultimately put in Triple-A to help his development. Now after a month in Triple-A, Casilla is bating over .300 in 20 games.
Casilla shows promise with earlier experience, the starts early will help him settle in quickly. As Fans, we have an opportunity to watch Casilla, we can decide if he is better than Punto. Fans know though, any player will be better than Nick Punto. Punto doesn’t have any redeemable player qualities. He gets overpaid, under performs, and now gets paid to not travel.
Men lie, women lie, numbers don’t. We’ll see Punto’s injury helping the Twins during a 14 day road trip to visit Cleveland, Seattle, Oakland, and Chicago. The combined record of our next four opponents is 90-113. The Twins should be able to cruise to a 10-4 record over the next two weeks.
Players expect the best as fans do but when AVGs drop to the lowest of a career it isn’t always due to a slump. The Twins need to look at Alexi Casilla seriously for a permanent shortstop.
Casilla is back from his month in Triple-A and he is ready, there seems to be a new spark in the young man’s demeanor. In the past week he has been quoted with maturity, “I wasn't expecting that they were going to send me down but that night, when I went to my room, I realized that they made a good decision.” Casilla has new respect for the game and it will show.
Punto is out and Casilla is in; that should help settle any Twins fans concern for the future. We now have 14 games to watch Alexi Casilla, no excuses, just perform.
Keywords: $500, 000, 2009, Alexi Casilla, American League Central, AVG, Buyout, Chicago, Cleveland, Disabled List, Fan, Games, Gardenhire, Major League Baseball, Manager, Minnesota Twins, MLB, Month, Nick Punto, Oakland, OB, Rod, Seattle, Shortstop, Slump, Triple-A
