This bugs me

OK, so maybe a little pun there. But this post from Bugs and Cranks irritates me, partly because I respectfully disagree with part of it, but also because it’s mostly accurate. In discussing Nick Punto, the author Landon Evanson, describes Punto as “invaluable”, and further alleges that when Alexi Casilla back from injury, a move of Punto to short will make the team better defensively.
The assertion that Punto is invaluable is purely subjective. In one line of thought, the spark he brings as a bat off the bench or on the basepaths had roused the team from slumps many times. Just look at the favorable numbers he put up early in the season. On the other end of the spectrum, his drain offensively during regular playing time (such as his .204 average in the past 4 weeks since becoming the every day 2b) is excruciating. I fall under the “Nick Punto is excruciating” category, but again, it’s a subjective measure, so I can’t fault Mr. Evanson for his points there. I do disagree with the idea that the Twins will improve defensively if Punto plays every day at short when Casilla returns. The player that has played short with Casilla out has been Adam Everett, widely regarded as one of the best defensive shortstops in the game. Over the last few years, when given regular playing time have acquitted themselves comparably at the plate, so that’s no excuse either. If the Twins are looking to optimize the defense, they would be best served by having Everett play short and Casilla at second. If they are looking to maximize what little offense they can, they would play Brenden Harris at short with Brian Buscher at third. Punto would be relegated to his optimal position, Triple A utility player.
I do agree with the assertion that Nick Punto is Twins Baseball. He plays fundamentally sound baseball, he hustles and he equates luck with skill. He slides into first one time and is safe, and suddenly, it’s the best idea in the world. The Twins are hitting almost .40 better with runners in scoring position and attribute that to being ‘clutch’, somehow better in stressful situations than usual, and not that there is a shift in the infield, Carlos Gomez isn’t trying to bunt or that they are simply lucky.
Watching the Twins bullpen flounder against the hapless Mariners tells me that the Twins need to figure out how to score runs in bunches and rely on things like tangible skill and not playing Nick Punto Baseball.