Thread: Article: Dozier's Disastrous Rookie Season

You can view the page at http://www.twinsdaily.com/content.ph...-Rookie-Season

Interesting article!

I think that sending him down and giving Florimon a chance makes a lot of sense. Dozier might be able to better relax and improve his game at AAA, and I look forward to seeing Florimon's defense.

My only point would have been that sending him down a month ago would have made sense. Like Nick pointed out, there's just 2 1/2 weeks left at Rochester. Florimon is intriguing. I'm intrigued by his glove. We know he's not likely to hit a lot, but if he can be a plus-plus defensive shortstop, what happens?

I dont know that I would classify it as a disaster but more of this is who he is. Dozier is too old to be considered a decent prospect and the org rankings everywhere reflected that. Dozier has a chance to be a fair utility guy at best which has value. Levi Michael is a similar "too old for his level" guy with utility upside but at least the Twins didnt waste a first rounder on Dozier.

I think Nick is being a bit negative here. Baseball is littered with examples of people who didn't make it their first time around, and given that Dozier was hardly considered a big prospect, it's not surprising that he struggled. I do think he needs to earn his spot next year, but given his age, it isn't wise to write him off as a bust either. Let's see how he handles Rochester and how he does during his second stint before we call him a bust.

I don't get it. If they thought this was necessary, it seems like the latest the move should have been made is August 1st. Doing it now doesn't make much sense.

Very odd timing for sure, would like to see him get some reps at 2b when he's called back up. Too early in my mind to start throwing in the towel on him.

His defense at short wasn't that bad, errors aren't a great stat to go by. His UZR was right around 0 with over 700+ innings. I don't get why he never took pitches or seemed to take coaching direction though. If he could have taken 15 more walks and worked the count he would have had on OBP of 315 or so. That would be adequate with his defense. He made a lot of dumb plays in the field but I think you could chalk that up to being a rookie. But yeah in reality he didn't seem to care to not be Delmon Young at the plate and he is pretty old to suck that bad.

Brian Dozier desperately needs some time away from the pressure of mlb ball, nothing to do with age, he's just emotionally fried right now. His hitting has been sporadic, his batting stance, mechanics and mental approach need work. He's also getting dangerously tentative at SS. In other words, he's starting to look like Nisihioka.

Meanwhile, Pedro Florimon is hitting well enough to give him a look. Florimon's fielding reportedly is superb. Plug him in at short and don't worry. If Florimon shows he isn't overmatched at the plate, he could be next year's starting SS, maybe with Dozier at 2B.

Two weeks is a short time, but Dozier needs a break from the pressure to regroup and get his form back. Maybe it's enough for the kid to relax. Personally I think he can be a solid major leaguer. I don't know why we worry so much about this over or under 25 stuff. If we decided everything on that, we would have missed Denard Span, Torii Hunter, and Sam Deduno.

Originally Posted by Brock Beauchamp

I don't get it. If they thought this was necessary, it seems like the latest the move should have been made is August 1st. Doing it now doesn't make much sense.

I agree, but I think a lot of the timing had to do with the fact that Plouffe was on the DL and they still wanted to give Nishi a shot. They didn't want to field an entirely new Middle infield. Now that Plouffe is back, Nishi's chance has come and gone they can get on with letting some of the other things play out.

For me it comes down to "what do you want from your middle infielders"? Defense has to come first with this team. Let the other positions carry the offensive load. Granted we can't have a .190 hitter at short, but if we can get above average fielding at SS I can live with a .245 hitter with little power.

Originally Posted by minn55441

For me it comes down to "what do you want from your middle infielders"? Defense has to come first with this team. Let the other positions carry the offensive load. Granted we can't have a .190 hitter at short, but if we can get above average fielding at SS I can live with a .245 hitter with little power.

Agree. That's why I see no reason that the best defensive middle IF in this team (Casilla) should not be playing every day.

I think the Dozier demotion might be to help him get down there, work with Brunanksy and build his confidence up. Also, auditioning Florimon makes sense because they would need to make some decisions for next season. Pretty excited to see a Florimon/Casilla DP combination, but I am not sure that is happening. Carroll was pretty atrocious at SS last night

Who was the last infielder that came up thru the system that actually stuck and played quality baseball for several years?
From the lat 90' to 2004 Rivas, Guzman, Koskie and Minty played together and were solid by all accounts. From that time nobody has had an extended amount of solid play other than Morneau. Doesn't that really say a lot about the drafting and scouting this team has?

yet no mention on Carroll's D last night in the postgame stuff. He's no longer a SS, but will likely command too many innings there.

Lowered expectations with this team. Slug hitters in the middle is ok as long as they can play D.

Shows what happens when the talent pool is thin.

Originally Posted by Winston Smith

Who was the last infielder that came up thru the system that actually stuck and played quality baseball for several years?
From the lat 90' to 2004 Rivas, Guzman, Koskie and Minty played together and were solid by all accounts. From that time nobody has had an extended amount of solid play other than Morneau. Doesn't that really say a lot about the drafting and scouting this team has?

Absolutely. Same applies to pitching. They've done quite lousy overall of late.

We shouldn't be surprised by his struggles. One good season in the minors doesn't really mean all that much. Our media here talked him up like he was the next big thing. He's not.
He looks like a utility guy to me.

Just another example of the rudderless Twins front office chasing this fantasy that "there are no scholarships". That obviously only pertains to rookies who they feel the need to humiliate publicly to mask the fact that they have no plan and can't manage a roster. So its totally fine to trot Blackburn and Deunsing out there but you are drawing the line with Dozier??? That's ridiculous. Especially since you have NO ONE to replace him because you refuse to sign productive free agent or trade at the deadline to make your team better. The only thing guaranteed by this move is Florimon won't come close to batting .230 and isn't going to be an upgrade by really the only statistic that matters, wins. This isn't Dozier's fault. This is purely an organizational failure.

Bascially the Twins are saying that Joe Vavra can do nothing with Dozier & they need Brunansky to work with him for a couple wks.
Remember how horrible Ben Revere was at the plate last yr....sometimes it takes an offseason for everything to sink in
Dont know if they wanted to waste an option year tho....

Originally Posted by savvyspy

Just another example of the rudderless Twins front office chasing this fantasy that "there are no scholarships". That obviously only pertains to rookies who they feel the need to humiliate publicly to mask the fact that they have no plan and can't manage a roster. So its totally fine to trot Blackburn and Deunsing out there but you are drawing the line with Dozier??? That's ridiculous. Especially since you have NO ONE to replace him because you refuse to sign productive free agent or trade at the deadline to make your team better. The only thing guaranteed by this move is Florimon won't come close to batting .230 and isn't going to be an upgrade by really the only statistic that matters, wins. This isn't Dozier's fault. This is purely an organizational failure.

How in the world is it publicly humiliating a guy to send him down to the minors after he struggles for months on end? Once he comes up, he has to stay forever? Don't look now, but that's the problem you're ranting against.

Over and over and over they've supported Dozier, said they think he can be a good major league shortstop, given him time and experience to grow and improve, and talked positively even about his mistakes. My goodness. StarTrib comment section is just down the street.

So the Twins trade for the division leading White Sox's utility infielder and the Twins' system is so much better that he can't even beat Pedro Florimon to Target Field?

I thought a lot of Dozier's at-bats left something to be desired. Swinging early at pitcher's pitches, making a lot of soft contact, and a poor K/BB ratio. That said, I thought his defense had stabilized as acceptable and that he was playing fairly sound fundamental baseball.

I didn't witness the extra inning play that seemed to ignite conflict, but seldom has a Twins player been criticized for taking a sure out.