Brian Dozier Is Not Ready

[Nick Nelson]

We all agree the Twins aren't going anywhere with this pitching staff, the impact on the team is irrelevant.

I'm pretty sure that's exactly what he's saying. What are you even disagreeing with here?

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

I'm pretty sure that's exactly what he's saying. What are you even disagreeing with here?

I believe he's disagreeing with the reasoning that Dozier should get time to figure it out in the MLB because it's a lost season. Fans say his awful play has no impact on the team anyway because they are playing for nothing. That shouldn't be the main motive to keep a player up to see what you have before he's ideally ready. You do what's best for the player.

[Nick Nelson]

I believe he's disagreeing with the reasoning that Dozier should get time to figure it out in the MLB because it's a lost season.

I'm pretty sure anyone who's saying he should stay in the majors is saying it because they think it's what's best for him as a player. The only point being made is that his negative impact on the team's outcomes shouldn't play into the equation.

 

Personally, I don't see what Dozier has to gain by going back to Triple-A. His problem right now is that he can't hit major-league pitching. Going to the minors isn't going to fix that. If he can't figure it out by the end of the year, you move on. He's not a good enough prospect to merit kid gloves.

[TheLeviathan]

I'm pretty sure anyone who's saying he should stay in the majors is saying it because they think it's what's best for him

 

If he can't figure it out by the end of the year, you move on. He's not a good enough prospect to merit kid gloves.

You are taking away an implication that isn't there or is at best a clunky phrasing. If it is what is best for Dozier just say that. But there are many here suggesting the teams path to nowhere is the reason to keep him up. I'd argue that is a pretty bizarre notion of player development.

 

And why does this have to be his one go of it? No one else in the organization I coming to push him out. From what I see 213 is open for him too.

[diehardtwinsfan]

The Twins are not close to being in contention so why not let him play?

Because there is a point to which this is detrimental. I can give you example after example of guys who were called up too early and never panned out. In recent memory, Carlos Gomez and Delmon Young. In Young's case, the contract kind of forced it, and in Gomez case, they had to have something to show for the Santana trade, and look what happened... Gomez never amounted to anything close to his potential, and Young just started getting tolerable when he got expensive, at which point he regressed again. Both had star potential in the big leagues and neither will ever amount to much of anything. I agree that there are other issues here, but Lev's point is very valid. You have to do what is best for both the org an the player. My big thing is that Dozier (and Parmalee for that matter) should be playing every day. I'm presently not terribly worried where either is playing, though the case for Dozier is looking more and more like AAA. He's making mistakes that he didn't make before.... that's a sign of not being ready... it isn't a knock on Dozier as much as a recognition that 2012 may not be his year, and spending time in Rochester might be in his best interest.

 

As for the org, there is one other big thing... service time. I know we have money now, but that still doesn't mean make stupid decisions. If he needs developmental time, there's no reason why he cannot develop in AAA where his clock isn't ticking. It certainly shouldn't be the sole reason for doing this as it was in the past, but if he's clearly not ready, then don't waste the time.

[kab21]

Gomez and Delmon aren't comparable at all to the Dozier situation. Gomez and Young had upside and were called up at 21/22. Dozier had an utility player tag before last year's fluke. It looks like he's headed back to utility player/bottom tier starter status and spending time in AAA isn't going to make the difference. I just hope that he can come out of this funk and be better than Alexi.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Kab, I'm not comparing Dozier to Delmon and Gomez. I'm simply using them as an example that people can get called up too soon and it can have a negative impact on them. You are right in that Dozier was never considered to have the talent that these guys had. But that has nothing to do with whether or not he should be sent down or work things out in Minnesota. Like Lev said, you do what is best for the player and for the organization, and if that's sending him down... send him down. If it's keeping him up, keep him up.

[Guest USAFChief]

You might make a case for Carlos Gomez being called up too early, and not developing properly because of it. He's only had 1 season of full time play at the big league level, and it's possible he would have learned more by playing full time in the minors. It's also possible, of course, he has reached his potential, and we're seeing it.

 

Delmon Young is not comparable. In addition to the age issue reached by Kab, Delmon has been a full time player in the big leagues for several years, and has compiled over 3200 PAs. If he was going to develop, he could have done it in the majors by now.

 

What Dozier needs is exposure to MLB pitching. I can't see any benefit to sticking him in Rochester. If he wasn't playing, that'd be one thing. But he's playing almost every day. He's been bad, but not overwhelmed. Let's see what the situation looks like over the winter.

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

This is my case:

 

But students successfully skipping grades is not unheard of either.

The school comparison is simple enough, but why allow someone to jump the grade they're in when they have a C?

[diehardtwinsfan]

You might make a case for Carlos Gomez being called up too early, and not developing properly because of it. He's only had 1 season of full time play at the big league level, and it's possible he would have learned more by playing full time in the minors. It's also possible, of course, he has reached his potential, and we're seeing it.

 

Delmon Young is not comparable. In addition to the age issue reached by Kab, Delmon has been a full time player in the big leagues for several years, and has compiled over 3200 PAs. If he was going to develop, he could have done it in the majors by now.

 

What Dozier needs is exposure to MLB pitching. I can't see any benefit to sticking him in Rochester. If he wasn't playing, that'd be one thing. But he's playing almost every day. He's been bad, but not overwhelmed. Let's see what the situation looks like over the winter.

Delmon's contract forced the issue. He signed an ML contract. When he arrived in MN they pretty much had to keep him up, and lest anyone forget, he was pretty bad his first couple of seasons in MN.