Article: Deadline Deal: Twins Trade Brian Dozier to Dodgers

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Dozier having a revival in LA. 3 run homer tonight.

 

I think this revival was totally predictable. Playing on a new team, contender and all. Plus, he is surrounded by better payers in the lineup. He will probably go on the late season tear now. 

 

BD gets a chance to hit that jackpot if he keeps it up. Never was happening here.

I'll be pretty bent at Dozier if he goes on a tear in Los Angeles.

 

A big reason why the Twins weren't contending is because he basically took the season off. If he wanted to play on a contender, he had a chance from the beginning of April forward but failed to play like a contender.

[Vanimal46]

I'll be pretty bent at Dozier if he goes on a tear in Los Angeles.

 

A big reason why the Twins weren't contending is because he basically took the season off. If he wanted to play on a contender, he had a chance from the beginning of April forward but failed to play like a contender.

It was too cold in April to play good baseball, remember? Edited August 3, 2018 by Vanimal46

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Well, since he can't answer the question you asked, what would you like him to type?

Good point. People are going to believe what they want to believe. We are seeing that a lot lately and not just in baseball.

 

The Twins and Esobar's camp had talks, and did not come to agreement.

I doubt it. If LaVelle said it after the trade, then it sounds a lot like damage control to me. That's fine; we all spin. The front office needs to spin. I just have a hard time believing it. I doubt the front office made Escobar an offer and he rejected it, which is what the poster I responded to is implying.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Good point. People are going to believe what they want to believe. We are seeing that a lot lately and not just in baseball.
 
I doubt it. If LaVelle said it after the trade, then it sounds a lot like damage control to me. That's fine; we all spin. The front office needs to spin. I just have a hard time believing it. I doubt the front office made Escobar an offer and he rejected it, which is what the poster I responded to is implying.

 

It is certainly possibly not true. We don't really know. 

 

My hunch, even before the report, was that they had talks, so I'm inclined to believe it (to your first sentence), but we don't know.

 

Either way, he's gone. Now they should re-sign him in the off season to back up the entire infield.

[nicksaviking]

 

Good point. People are going to believe what they want to believe. We are seeing that a lot lately and not just in baseball.
 
I doubt it. If LaVelle said it after the trade, then it sounds a lot like damage control to me. That's fine; we all spin. The front office needs to spin. I just have a hard time believing it. I doubt the front office made Escobar an offer and he rejected it, which is what the poster I responded to is implying.

 

Seems to me it's only spin if you really want it to be untrue, or as you said, want to believe what you want to believe. Escobar seems like the kind of versatile veteran this front office would like to keep around, and Escobar would have to be naive to accept an extension two months prior to becoming a free agent. On top of that we have a report from La Velle saying there were talks. Yet people are confidently saying it didn't happen when there's much more evidence to support that it did.

[Brock Beauchamp]

It was too cold in April to play good baseball, remember?

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

It is certainly possibly not true. We don't really know. 

 

My hunch, even before the report, was that they had talks, so I'm inclined to believe it (to your first sentence), but we don't know.

 

Either way, he's gone. Now they should re-sign him in the off season to back up the entire infield.

 

I don't know why it wouldn't be true... what we don't know is how good the offer was.

[lukeduke1980]

 

Dozier having a revival in LA. 3 run homer tonight.

 

I think this revival was totally predictable. Playing on a new team, contender and all. Plus, he is surrounded by better payers in the lineup. He will probably go on the late season tear now. 

 

BD gets a chance to hit that jackpot if he keeps it up. Never was happening here.

Both of Dozier's homers have been against Matt Albers.  Let's give him a week.

 

I will say the swing on the first homerun was the best Dozier swing I saw all year.

[Squirrel]

It was too cold in April to play good baseball, remember? Then it was too hot to play good baseball for a stretch of time too.

 

Look, Dozier played a part in the team struggling out of the gate. But it certainly seems like fans want to place ALL of the blame on him. There were 6 other guys in the lineup that couldn't hit the broad side of a barn for months at a time.

I haven't heard anyone placing ALL the blame on him. What people are suggesting is THE PLAYERS THEMSELVES are at fault for where we are today, and Dozier is but one. And since he is the one who was calling out the FO for 'quitting' on them (my words, not his, but the gist was the same), people are going to come back with he didn't produce. I get how it sounds as if people are placing the blame on his shoulders, they aren't. But the are bumping back against his 'disappointment' in the FO when he (and the rest of the team) are to blame for the bad performance. And I say this as one who's always really liked Dozier. And it hurts to see him gone. But, as a fan, I'm mad at him, too.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I haven't heard anyone placing ALL the blame on him. What people are suggesting is THE PLAYERS THEMSELVES are at fault for where we are today, and Dozier is but one. And since he is the one who was calling out the FO for 'quitting' on them (my words, not his, but the gist was the same), people are going to come back with he didn't produce. I get how it sounds as if people are placing the blame on his shoulders, they aren't. But the are bumping back against his 'disappointment' in the FO when he (and the rest of the team) are to blame for the bad performance. And I say this as one who's always really liked Dozier. And it hurts to see him gone. But, as a fan, I'm mad at him, too.

Exactly. We readily blame the front office for their mistakes but rarely square up on the players themselves - especially veterans - and do the same.

 

Well, they’re the ones who step onto the field. If Dozier hated the clubhouse, fix it (Molitor too). Even then, a bad clubhouse is not an excuse to lay down and die.

[TheLeviathan]

 

I haven't heard anyone placing ALL the blame on him. What people are suggesting is THE PLAYERS THEMSELVES are at fault for where we are today, and Dozier is but one. And since he is the one who was calling out the FO for 'quitting' on them (my words, not his, but the gist was the same), people are going to come back with he didn't produce. I get how it sounds as if people are placing the blame on his shoulders, they aren't. But the are bumping back against his 'disappointment' in the FO when he (and the rest of the team) are to blame for the bad performance. And I say this as one who's always really liked Dozier. And it hurts to see him gone. But, as a fan, I'm mad at him, too.

 

Well said.  And the counterpoint to this would be to suggest that Dozier is too much of the focus.

 

Well, this is the player demanding to hit in the lineup where he wants.  The one who is seen as the offensive leader and clubhouse leader.  If that's your position on the team, then expect more responsibility being thrown at your feet too.

 

Especially when you couple how vocal he's been complaining about the FO.  He was more subtle about it this year, but nonetheless silly about his complaints.  If Dozier doesn't like his buddies being traded, maybe he should try to be less of a blackhole for half a season.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Exactly. We readily blame the front office for their mistakes but rarely square up on the players themselves - especially veterans - and do the same.

Well, they’re the ones who step onto the field. If Dozier hated the clubhouse, fix it (Molitor too). Even then, a bad clubhouse is not an excuse to lay down and die.

oh, so Dozier should have filed and signed the paperwork to release Lance Lynn? Interesting.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Seems to me it's only spin if you really want it to be untrue, or as you said, want to believe what you want to believe. Escobar seems like the kind of versatile veteran this front office would like to keep around, and Escobar would have to be naive to accept an extension two months prior to becoming a free agent. On top of that we have a report from La Velle saying there were talks. Yet people are confidently saying it didn't happen when there's much more evidence to support that it did.

"much more evidence"

 

What is it?

 

We have a sentence from LaVelle. That's it. If someone has something on the radio they heard they haven't shared it, and I'm open to that information. I'm still looking for dollar figures, too. Anyone? Doogie? And do we have to rehash LaVelle's record as a so-called beat writer?

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

oh, so Dozier should have filed and signed the paperwork to release Lance Lynn? Interesting.

Oh, so Lynn is the problem? And Dozier, as a team leader, couldn't isolate a pitcher who has limited impact on the position players?

 

If you declare yourself a team leader, you get that **** in order and make it work. If you can't handle that job, don't try to step forward when things are easy and then back the **** up when things get hard.

 

The thing is that I also place loads of blame on guys like Lynn. This isn't a situation exclusive to Dozier; from front to back, the veterans underperformed. That shouldn't be a controversial statement. Me being angry at Dozier does not mean I'm not angry at Morrison or Lynn.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Oh, so Lynn is the problem? And Dozier, as a team leader, couldn't isolate a pitcher who has limited impact on the position players?

 

If you declare yourself a team leader, you get that **** in order and make it work. If you can't handle that job, don't try to step forward when things are easy and then back the **** up when things get hard.

 

The thing is that I also place loads of blame on guys like Lynn. This isn't a situation exclusive to Dozier; from front to back, the veterans underperformed. That shouldn't be a controversial statement. Me being angry at Dozier does not mean I'm not angry at Morrison or Lynn.

Fair. That hasn't been coming through in the recent posts. Yeah I was fed up with Dozier too. And Lynn. And Morrison. (and Sano and Polanco and Rodney and...) ... and the front office. I hope they reflect hard on every move they made this season.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Fair. That hasn't been coming through in the recent posts. Yeah I was fed up with Dozier too. And Lynn. And Morrison. (and Sano and Polanco and Rodney and...) ... and the front office. I hope they reflect hard on every move they made this season.

Absolutely. I'm angry at almost every level of this organization, but mostly I'm angry at the players (mostly the veterans). The metrics were good on most acquisitions but obviously, mistakes were made in those acquisitions.

 

At the end of the day, the front office can't control what happens when guys step onto the field. And it's the players' damned fault that they walked onto the field and **** the bed so consistently and thoroughly.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I wonder how much of this "bad clubhouse" came from people being upset that they didn't get big deals this offseason. 

[Squirrel]

Fair. That hasn't been coming through in the recent posts. Yeah I was fed up with Dozier too. And Lynn. And Morrison. (and Sano and Polanco and Rodney and...) ... and the front office. I hope they reflect hard on every move they made this season.

It’s probably not coming through because this is a Dozier thread, but there is plenty of disgust for the other players throughout this forum. I mean, how many threads have there been on Sano and Buxton, and how they are being written off as busts? How many game threads are there where posters have questioned why Morrison is still on the team, and all the comments about FRE? I mean Rodney has a special acronym and it’s not because he’s been great every time. Game threads have become unbearable more times than not because they have become a dumping ground for everyone’s complaints about the team and organization as a whole. And Molitor has certainly gotten his fair share of criticism, too, deservedly so, imo. And don’t get me started on all the threads and comments there are on Mauer that polarizes this site like no one and nothing else. So no one is isolating Dozier as the sole problem, but this is a thread about him so that’s why things seem more focused on him here but they really aren’t overall. Also, when you declare yourself the leader and say stuff to the press on behalf of your team about how disappointed you are in the FO for trading away players, I find that a bit ironic and it also tends to invite more focus. And since Dozier has been a player I’ve liked way more than others, it makes it worse for me. As I said, it hurts to see him gone, but as a fan, I’m mad at him, too. Since this is a Dozier thread, this is where I’ll express that but it doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of disappointment to go around.

[Riverbrian]

It’s probably not coming through because this is a Dozier thread, but there is plenty of disgust for the other players throughout this forum. I mean, how many threads have there been on Sano and Buxton, and how they are being written off as busts? How many game threads are there where posters have questioned why Morrison is still on the team, and all the comments about FRE? I mean Rodney has a special acronym and it’s not because he’s been great every time. Game threads have become unbearable more times than not because they have become a dumping ground for everyone’s complaints about the team and organization as a whole. And Molitor has certainly gotten his fair share of criticism, too, deservedly so, imo. And don’t get me started on all the threads and comments there are on Mauer that polarizes this site like no one and nothing else. So no one is isolating Dozier as the sole problem, but this is a thread about him so that’s why things seem more focused on him here but they really aren’t overall. Also, when you declare yourself the leader and say stuff to the press on behalf of your team about how disappointed you are in the FO for trading away players, I find that a bit ironic and it also tends to invite more focus. And since Dozier has been a player I’ve liked way more than others, it makes it worse for me. As I said, it hurts to see him gone, but as a fan, I’m mad at him, too. Since this is a Dozier thread, this is where I’ll express that but it doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of disappointment to go around.

This is a fantastic post.

[akmanak]

It’s probably not coming through because this is a Dozier thread, but there is plenty of disgust for the other players throughout this forum. I mean, how many threads have there been on Sano and Buxton, and how they are being written off as busts? How many game threads are there where posters have questioned why Morrison is still on the team, and all the comments about FRE? I mean Rodney has a special acronym and it’s not because he’s been great every time. Game threads have become unbearable more times than not because they have become a dumping ground for everyone’s complaints about the team and organization as a whole. And Molitor has certainly gotten his fair share of criticism, too, deservedly so, imo. And don’t get me started on all the threads and comments there are on Mauer that polarizes this site like no one and nothing else. So no one is isolating Dozier as the sole problem, but this is a thread about him so that’s why things seem more focused on him here but they really aren’t overall. Also, when you declare yourself the leader and say stuff to the press on behalf of your team about how disappointed you are in the FO for trading away players, I find that a bit ironic and it also tends to invite more focus. And since Dozier has been a player I’ve liked way more than others, it makes it worse for me. As I said, it hurts to see him gone, but as a fan, I’m mad at him, too. Since this is a Dozier thread, this is where I’ll express that but it doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of disappointment to go around.

Spot on post.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

I wonder how much of this "bad clubhouse" came from people being upset that they didn't get big deals this offseason. 

Well, in their cases, it has become a self-fulfilling prophesy: Morrison, Dozier, Lynn... none of them will get the deals they wanted last November this coming November.

 

Escobar, on the other hand... The lesson to be learned here is "keep your chin up, *******s".

[jimbo92107]

On September 30, 1859, Abraham Lincoln recounted a story:

 

It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence, to be ever in view, and which should be true and appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him the words: "And this, too, shall pass away." How much it expresses! How chastening in the hour of pride! How consoling in the depths of affliction!

 

Hat tip, Abe Lincoln. HOF? GPOAT?

[TheLeviathan]

 

Well, in their cases, it has become a self-fulfilling prophesy: Morrison, Dozier, Lynn... none of them will get the deals they wanted last November this coming November.

 

Escobar, on the other hand... The lesson to be learned here is "keep your chin up, *******s".

 

Kinda fits with the theme the last few pages - every one of them should look in the mirror.  They are making every GM in the league look wise for passing on investing in them.

[Squirrel]

Well, in their cases, it has become a self-fulfilling prophesy: Morrison, Dozier, Lynn... none of them will get the deals they wanted last November this coming November.

 

Escobar, on the other hand... The lesson to be learned here is "keep your chin up, *******s".

If I’ve said this once I’ve said it 20 times ... one of the reason Esco was one of my favorites. He worked hard and joyfully, and was happy to do so in any and every role he was given. If that’s not being the ultimate professional I don’t know what is.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

If I’ve said this once I’ve said it 20 times ... one of the reason Esco was one of my favorites. He worked hard and joyfully, and was happy to do so in any and every role he was given. If that’s not being the ultimate professional I don’t know what is.

There's a reason I'm cheering Arizona (a place I absolutely despise) over Los Angeles (a place I lived for a decade and only mildly dislike but simultaneously hold mild affection for).

[jorgenswest]

‪Jake Cave on Brian Dozier in the Athletic‬

 

‪“He obviously has a good amount of time, has made good money, but he never treated anybody differently,” Cave said. “That was cool to me, being a rookie. He talked to me any time I wanted to talk. He was awesome.”‬

 

So, Cave was sad to see Dozier go. Cave, though, is trying to continue using the things Dozier taught him on how to conduct himself as a professional baseball player.

 

‪https://theathletic.com/460105/2018/08/05/twins-sweep-royals-jake-cave-grand-slam-trade-dealine-robbie-grossman-disabled-list/‬

[ewen21]

 

So no one is isolating Dozier as the sole problem

Exactly.  It isn't too much of a reach to 

 

‪Jake Cave on Brian Dozier in the Athletic‬

‪“He obviously has a good amount of time, has made good money, but he never treated anybody differently,” Cave said. “That was cool to me, being a rookie. He talked to me any time I wanted to talk. He was awesome.”‬

So, Cave was sad to see Dozier go. Cave, though, is trying to continue using the things Dozier taught him on how to conduct himself as a professional baseball player.

‪https://theathletic.com/460105/2018/08/05/twins-sweep-royals-jake-cave-grand-slam-trade-dealine-robbie-grossman-disabled-list/‬

You cannot discount Cave's comments, but he also did some dumb and awkward stuff that makes you shake your head.  The talk about not getting an extension was sour grapes to me.  The "respect the game" BS in Baltimore was ridiculous.  There were a number of times he had lapses in the field and sometimes doesn't run out balls.  He gets visibly affected by things that go on and it sometimes caused him to sag instead of double down and get fierce.  I did not like his antics after Escobar was beaned by Porcello.  He joked about it with Escobar RIGHT THERE in front of cameras and I don't care what anyone says.  That was awkward, dumb stuff.  If that "keeping the boys loose" stuff is what leadership is made of then give me a different leader.

 

Good luck to him in LA, but he should have understood the baseball business better.  He wanted guaranteed money before the season started and he has had a lame season.  We made the right decision.