Worse than 1981? So says Patrick

[Platoon]

Reusse compared position for position. It didn't turn out well. Hes was optimistic at the start of the season, a mistake he has since acknowledged. I enjoy his observations on baseball, he grew up with the game, and agree with him or not, he has been a fan and observer of everything from town ball to MLB for a long time.

 

http://www.startribune.com/twins-of-1981-were-unwatchable-but-better-than-these-yahoos/380692181/

[jimmer]

 

Reusse compared position for position. It didn't turn out well. Hes was optimistic at the start of the season, a mistake he has since acknowledged. I enjoy his observations on baseball, he grew up with the game, and agree with him or not, he has been a fan and observer of everything from town ball to MLB for a long time.

http://www.startribune.com/twins-of-1981-were-unwatchable-but-better-than-these-yahoos/380692181/

Well, I guess the bright side is, we only have 6 more years until a W Series victory.  By then it'll be a nice reward for a decade of utter futility :-)

[Oldgoat_MN]

Ah yes, crabby Patrick...

 

In comparing the 1981 team to the 2016 team he says (usually) that he would prefer the 1981 player.

That included Glenn Adams as DH over Park.

 

 

In 1981 Glenn Adams had an OPS+ of 57. 57!

 

Park's OPS+ currently sits at 116.

That one choice shows how very little he knows or understands baseball.

 

[Thrylos]

Got to love this quote from there:

 

By objective analysis, the 2016 Twins are worse than the 1981 Twins

 

Where objective means the way that Reusse feels eg:

 

RF: Dave Engle vs. Miguel Sano. I’ll take Engle. He cared.

Starters: Al Williams, Pete Redfern, Fernando Arroyo and Koosman … I’ll take ’em over what Twins are running out now

 

Cannot even make it up.

Either he is a clown or does not understand what the word "objective" means.

[ashbury]

 

By objective analysis, the 2016 Twins are worse than the 1981 Twins...

Either he is a clown or does not understand what the word "objective" means.

He simply forgot to include the phrase "of my subjective opinions" before the comma.

[Platoon]

Got to love this quote from there:

 

By objective analysis, the 2016 Twins are worse than the 1981 Twins

 

Where objective means the way that Reusse feels eg:

 

RF: Dave Engle vs. Miguel Sano. I’ll take Engle. He cared.

Starters: Al Williams, Pete Redfern, Fernando Arroyo and Koosman … I’ll take ’em over what Twins are running out now

 

Cannot even make it up.

Either he is a clown or does not understand what the word "objective" means.

There are Legion team with better starting pitchers than the Twins are currently tossing out there. As for his Engle comment, I think his point was not talent related, it was attitude and effort related. Sano has one, but not the other, I guess the comparison would rely on your opinion of which is which.

[Platoon]

Ah yes, crabby Patrick...

 

In comparing the 1981 team to the 2016 team he says (usually) that he would prefer the 1981 player.

That included Glenn Adams as DH over Park.

 

 

In 1981 Glenn Adams had an OPS+ of 57. 57!

 

Park's OPS+ currently sits at 116.

That one choice shows how very little he knows or understands baseball.

Or at the rate he is going, Park will get to that 57 yet? This better be a slump, cause if they have figur d him out, hes got a lot of adjusting to do.

[jimmer]

Serious question: Do people believe that this team, as currently constructed, IS better than the '81 team? Consider how the 2016 Twins team compares to the rest of the league in 2016 to the 1981 team compared to 1981 teams.

[Platoon]

Serious question: Do people believe that this team, as currently constructed, IS better than the '81 team? Consider how the 2016 Twins team compares to the rest of the league in 2016 to the 1981 team compared to 1981 teams.

I really can't remember each and every one of those guys, I likely caught most of the games on radio in those days. Regardless, this team is almost unwatchable. In fact if not for the morbid interest in how they are going to f^*k up each night, it would be unwatchable. It's almost impossible to be this bad. That said, when you take a PTC staff, put mediocre to worse defense behind it, and try and out score the other team with a lineup without a lead off hitter, 3 or 4 hitter, and minimal speed, you are going to get close.

[jokin]

 

Got to love this quote from there:

 

By objective analysis, the 2016 Twins are worse than the 1981 Twins

 

Where objective means the way that Reusse feels eg:

 

RF: Dave Engle vs. Miguel Sano. I’ll take Engle. He cared.

Starters: Al Williams, Pete Redfern, Fernando Arroyo and Koosman … I’ll take ’em over what Twins are running out now

 

Cannot even make it up.

Either he is a clown or does not understand what the word "objective" means.

 

How about both?

[TheLeviathan]

Reusse loved this team in Spring Training.  Just for the record.

[Mr. Brooks]

Reusse loved this team in Spring Training. Just for the record.

Yep. What's not to like. Now the whole mess is Sano's fault.

Soon Reusse will be writing a column telling us he has sources that finger Sano as the second shooter on the grassy knoll.

[DaveW]

People should really stop reading the local papers. Except for Russo, he is awesome.

[old nurse]

Collectively the 81 Twins had an OPS+ of 78 as opposed to the 84 as last updated.  They had an ERA+ of 101 in 81.

 

The wonderful first year players of '81 were brought up late in the year. I guess one should wait for a more accurate comparison.  Remember also  it suits him,  Ruesse is using career stats versus what they produced in 1981.

[curt1965]

I think Pat was trying to make some "tongue in cheek" comments. I didn't necessarily agree with all of his comparisons, but I got the point I think he was trying to make!

[Thrylos]

 

I think Pat was trying to make some "tongue in cheek" comments. I didn't necessarily agree with all of his comparisons, but I got the point I think he was trying to make!

 

And his point, again, is?

[bird]

C'mon, people, it's Reusse. What makes the concept of writing with tongue in cheek so elusive here?

[DocBauer]

Sometimes, I agree with Reusse. He sometimes writes something that is informed and intelligent. IMO, this is trash to spit out for a necessary column deadline skewed by a poor season and nothing more poignant or important available to talk about.

 

Casting is one of the biggest shames in Twins history. I don't know if he would ever be "great", but we was a really nice ballplayer who's career was tragically cut short due to injury. He was best, overall, as a 2B. His move to 3B, as I recall, was not only born out of roster balance, but if I recall correctly, the thought was 3B might be better for his back than playing 2B daily. But really, better than the solid but not great Plouffe? I don't think so. And, of course, it SHOULD be Sano at 3B.

 

I always thought Wilson was a nice player. My knowledge of Twins players from the past is way beyond solid, but I absolutely don't know/remember Pete Mackinin. With any return to semblance of his past self, this platoon over Dozier? No.

 

Adam's over Park at DH? If I had been drinking anything when I read this I would have covered my screen with a classic spit take. Adams was a nice role player with a couple decent seasons. He doesn't compare to the potential of Park.

 

Engle was an OK player, with a couple decent half seasons here and tnere, including one really nice half season as a catcher. But even miscast as an OF, you'd take him over Sano? Spit take #2.

 

Yeah, there were actually some better players on that 1981 team, but man, this whole article is rather ridiculous. I'd advise Mr Reusse to have a few drinks, then another one, blow off some steam, then come back with a fresh approach to something that actually matters.

 

Here's a suggestion; compare the 1982 team that lost a ton of games, looked inept at times, but was filled with a ton of young talent when the Twins committed to a HUGE youth movement vs the IMPENDING 2016-2017 Twins youth movement. At least there's something worth discussing and comparing there.

[Shaitan]

Commenting on Reusse, or reading him, or listening to him, is all a waste of time.

 

But sometimes I like to waste time.

 

I think any piece that compares position by position is silly and removed from all context.

 

[Pius Jefferson]

Very tame article that people unsurprisingly are blowing out of proportion. 

 

[Platoon]

I am surprised at the angst here. last nights game was yet another example that t this isn't as far fetched as thought. For example some of the '81 pitchers might not be memorable, but I cannot see how any starting staff anywhere can be this pathetic. We're not talking losing, we are talking getting to the 5th inning. I don't know if Reusse was comparing careers or career paths, or "in this time frame", but in this time frame, this team is becoming a legend in its own time frame. As for Sano, I am a fan. I drove to Beloit to watch him play. But his efforts this year are not good, and his effort over the winter is visible. I imagine Ryan did him no favors this winter, but I am not sure it would have mattered. He has some growing up to do, mentally. Park? Far far from sold on him. The power is there, his glove is meh, and his technique at 1st base is high school level at best.

[Han Joelo]

Since this was subjective sarcasm, and Reusse's writing persona is grumpy old man, I am fine with it.  When you open a can a Budweiser, you know what you are getting.

 

It is unfair and impossible to blame any one person, player or otherwise, for this enormous debacle, but currently, I am "objectively" the most disappointed with Sano.  Whether the cause is attitude, RF, or any other subjective excuse, his underwhelming performance is the single biggest disappointment for me.

[Thrylos]

 

Very tlame article that people unsurprisingly are blowing out of proportion. 

 

FTFY