Cameron: this team isn’t actually all that good

[Mike Sixel]

Suzuki is one of the 5 worst catchers in the league. The bullpen is not.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I would say Santana, Meyer out of the pen, and any of the three young DHs emerging again could be considered upgrades. And at the three weakest points other than SS.

I've granted you Ervin Santana.

 

It's not clear whether Meyer is on the fast-track to the MLB pen, but even if he was, there is more than hole or regression candidate for him to fill.

 

And we just demoted one of those 3 DH's just two weeks ago in favor of Eduardo Nunez, another potential DH is a 26 year old with a .729 OPS at AAA this season, and the third already has 850 MLB PA where he has looked more like Dayan Viciedo than a starting fixture in this league.

 

Sorry, criticizing Cameron about these points sounds like homerism on the level of Cameron's own "Mariners #6 organization" gaffe.

[drjim]

 

I've granted you Ervin Santana.

 

It's not clear whether Meyer is on the fast-track to the MLB pen, but even if he was, there is more than hole or regression candidate for him to fill.

 

And we just demoted one of those 3 DH's just two weeks ago in favor of Eduardo Nunez, another potential DH is a 26 year old with a .729 OPS at AAA this season, and the third already has 850 MLB PA where he has looked more like Dayan Viciedo than a starting fixture in this league.

 

Sorry, criticizing Cameron about these points sounds like homerism on the level of Cameron's own "Mariners #6 organization" gaffe.

 

Oh it is definitely homerism, but I'm also not trying to pass myself off as an objective national writer.

[drjim]

 

Suzuki is one of the 5 worst catchers in the league. The bullpen is not.

 

He really isn't. Firmly in the 10-25 muddle

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Oh it is definitely homerism, but I'm also not trying to pass myself off as an objective national writer.

So you think Cameron has an ax to grind with the Twins.  That's why he mentioned multiple players no longer on the team -- oh wait, he only mentioned one (Schafer).  That's he failed to mention the recent contributions of guys we've called up  -- wait, Hicks is the only one, and he has a 71 OPS+, about the same as Schafer's career mark.  That's why he endorsed a trade for Mike Leake -- wait, he didn't do that, he was just asked to speculate which pitchers could be realistic targets for the Twins.  That's why he failed to recognized the abundant riches that are about to unfold in our DH spot.  That's why he can't possibly see the impact that Meyer is going to have very soon on our bullpen.

 

I think it's pretty clear you have a far bigger ax to grind with "objective national writers", so I will bow out of this conversation now.

[Dantes929]

Its all small sample size.   I have the same response I had to the analysis of Gibson.   They said he was really lucky to be so successful given his very low strikeout rate.    I said he was really unlucky that his strikeout rate was so low.   Same kind of case here.   I think the Twins can hit much better than they have overall which will put them in high leverage situations more often where they will definitely regress. in their % of production which may or may not lead to fewer runs..    I don't think the Twins are a great team but I haven't really been that impressed with the other teams either.   They are playing good ball and rarely beat themselves anymore which is a really big thing..   Just hoping to avoid a sweep in Boston.

[drjim]

 

So you think Cameron has an ax to grind with the Twins.  That's why he mentioned multiple players no longer on the team -- oh wait, he only mentioned one (Schafer).  That's he failed to mention the recent contributions of guys we've called up  -- wait, Hicks is the only one, and he has a 71 OPS+, about the same as Schafer's career mark.  That's why he endorsed a trade for Mike Leake -- wait, he didn't do that, he was just asked to speculate which pitchers could be realistic targets for the Twins.  That's why he failed to recognized the abundant riches that are about to unfold in our DH spot.  That's why he can't possibly see the impact that Meyer is going to have very soon on our bullpen.

 

I think it's pretty clear you have a far bigger ax to grind with "objective national writers", so I will bow out of this conversation now.

 

I don't think he has an ax to grind. I just don't think he, like any national writer, has full context of a team.

 

I liked the article and I don't dispute the troubling nature of overperfomlng BaseRuns to the extent the Twins have. I just don't buy it is a static situation that guarantees their doom.

[Mike Sixel]

 

He really isn't. Firmly in the 10-25 muddle

 

25th is one of the 5 worst, isn't it?

[spinowner]

 

25th is one of the 5 worst, isn't it?

Nope. 26-30 are the 5 worst.

[Mike Sixel]

There aren't 30 every day catchers in the majors, are there?

 

I stand by my assertion, catcher is a bigger problem than the bullpen. Others can disagree, I'm ok with that.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I don't think he has an ax to grind. I just don't think he, like any national writer, has full context of a team.

 

I liked the article and I don't dispute the troubling nature of overperfomlng BaseRuns to the extent the Twins have. I just don't buy it is a static situation that guarantees their doom.

There is the problem. It is not a lack of context, it is a matter of opinion. I doubt that Cameron is unaware that Vargas/Pinto/Arcia exist, it is just that he doubts they will major contributors in the near future. An opinion shared by many on this board and probably in the Twins front office.

 

And Cameron hardly guarantees their doom, his own site gave us a 25% chance of postseason play even with the worst rest of season projected record in the league. ( And do not mistake the bad projection for a prediction )