HOU 4, MIN 1: Astros Take Advantage of Pivotal Polanco Error

I think Morneau has been the best fill in for Bert.

I agree. More Morneau and Hawkins. Less Smalley. I don't mind Morris. Hunter is ok. Smalley thinks he needs to analyze every play, hit, pitch, batter, swing, pitcher, throw, ball hop, twist, move, you name it. He earns the mute button from me when he's in the booth.

 

Do we have a good SS in the minor leagues that can be brought up to play SS so we can move Polanco to 2B?

Edited September 3, 2018 by rv78

Move Polanco to 2B and sign or trade for a good defensive SS this winter.

I would tune in just to listen to Morneau! His knowledge and respect for the game is second to none, IMHO. He is very close to today’s players, having just retired in the last couple of years. Plus, he isn’t afraid to criticize a player if he thinks someone isn’t playing hard. More Justin, please!

My memory of Polanco last year is the he was defensively decent. From time to time a weak throw, but he was making the plays he was supposed to make. Lately he has been horrible. Not only him, but there are several that are playing like if the offseason can't come soon enough. The team seems to be mentally out.

 

I would tune in just to listen to Morneau! His knowledge and respect for the game is second to none, IMHO. He is very close to today’s players, having just retired in the last couple of years. Plus, he isn’t afraid to criticize a player if he thinks someone isn’t playing hard. More Justin, please!

All of this.

Polanco is not, nor ever was, in anyone's mind but MOY a MLB SS. Yes he can play SS, but only in this context: If your SS is Jorge Polanco, you do not have a good baseball team! I hope if he moves to second base, and has a little more time, and a little less stress on the throwing aspect, he can suffice. I think he will hit well enough. One other troubling aspect, which btw seems to inflict all Twins IF'ers, is the inability or lack of desire to battle a crappy throw to a base. They don't get an error, but they also don't get an out. Lots of matador attempts on that type of play.

Count me in as a Hawkins fan. He's been my favorite guest color-analyst this year. Morneau's good, but he's a bit too bland for my taste. Sorry. Hawkins seems to have the right balance of being both interesting and fun to listen to.

 

Count me in as a Hawkins fan. He's been my favorite guest color-analyst this year. Morneau's good, but he's a bit too bland for my taste. Sorry. Hawkins seems to have the right balance of being both interesting and fun to listen to.

See, to me, he isn't bland at all.  Every time I've listened to him he's come up with all sorts of interesting stuff along with very detailed analysis.  And he occasionally cracks me up.

 

I like Hawkins too, but he and Morneau, IMO, are the only good ones that have worked with Bremer (and that includes Bert) in a long time.

Edited September 3, 2018 by jimmer

Hawkins is the best of the bunch and Hunter is just about unbearable to listen to.  I turn the sound off when he's on.

Got to feel bad for Dick Bremmer during the late stages of this season. It’s hard to pump life into a dying corpse.

 

The season has been disappointing in terms of win-loss. Berrios and Gibson are at best middle of rotation pitchers. Oder is serviceable at the backend. Stewart and Gonslaves are headed back to AAA to start next season knowing what they need to do and not do at the majors.

 

Our middle infielders should be used for trade chips in the off-season. We need upgrades at SS and 2B, along with pitching.

 

The good news is Lewis and Kilrliloff should start at AA next season. Assuming they perform well, they will advance to AAA by mid year and make the September expanded roster by season’s end.

Polanco is a major disappointment.  Do we have any stats that tell us how much offense is required to overcome a horrible defense?  I loved the old days of players like Mark Belanger at SS who caught everything and help the infield together.  Polanco is a real disappointment.  He needs to be at 2B or out of the middle infield.  His bat is not that good!

 

Of course none of the bats are that good.  Sano 202, Austin 232, Field 194, Kepler 225.  Not championship ball nor is the fact that in the HR era we have one player with more than 20 HRs - Rosario with 22.

 

I disagree about Polanco. I think he can be a consistent .280 type of hitter and ideal number 3 man in the order. As far as his defense goes, he’s been ok until the last 10 days when he checked out like the rest of the team, except for maybe Cave and the injured Rosario. Whoops- forgot to include Molitor who never really checked “in.” The Twins will be in a world of hurt if they bring Molitor and the other coaches back.

If we could get rid of Bremer, I would be a happy man. Part-time color guys in order of likeability are Hawkins, Morneau, and Hunter and I think Hawkins is terrible. They all sound unprofessional a majority of the time. It makes you appreciate a true professional broadcaster and how much talent and time it takes to sound polished in the booth. I will admit that Hawkins, Morneau, and Hunter all have potential and each have likeable aspects to them.

Yes, Hawkins is good to listen to.  Also really like Morneau.  Like a lot of what Smalley does, but gets a bit too much at times.

 

After struggling thru watching some Twins this weekend, believe that their first two tasks for the winter are signing Gibby and Rosie to extensions.  Then build a team beginning with them.

Yes, Hawkins is good to listen to. Also really like Morneau. Like a lot of what Smalley does, but gets a bit too much at times.

 

After struggling thru watching some Twins this weekend, believe that their first two tasks for the winter are signing Gibby and Rosie to extensions. Then build a team beginning with them.

sure you want to build around a 31 year old pitcher who has been decent this year after being horrible the previous two years?

 

sure you want to build around a 31 year old pitcher who has been decent this year after being horrible the previous two years?

Yes, sign Gibby. If you let him go, you would not be signing an 'Ace' free agent, you would be signing the Odorizzi's and Lynn's of the world to replace him. I much prefer Gibby. And having Gibson around will not be holding up any prospects development, he will be a solid contributor while youngsters develop in the 3-5 spots in the rotation.

Morneau is by far the best of the aforementioned bunch.

 

Morneau is by far the best of the aforementioned bunch.

 

He just needs to project his voice more ... "Here's Rosario for birdie .... a little chip and run ... and he'll come up just short and have to settle for what should be an easy par."

Being

Being in Phoenix, I don't get to see the local broadcast team. I really wish I could. But I would like to share my take on Polanco. This is not really a fair sample of what I expect from him but his overall body of work on the field considering his age and experience level is definitely encouraging. At this point all things considered I am way more pleased with his performance and potential than I am with either Sano or Buxton's. After he and I a little private chat about his role in the 2018 fiasco we would both understand that there would be no need to ever comment on it again. Then i would go commit suicide for letting both Escobar and Dozier go for a Low A crap shooting squad. Polanco should be easing into a role that currently is Adrianza's. On the days Sano is at third and the regular infielders are in their spots he could definitely be the DH because his bat is one that needs to be in the lineup everyday. His everyday slot probably will be 2nd base but we dont have time to wait for Gordon or Lewis at shortstop. Playing Adrianza every day at short is not the answer. If im the Gm a priority is signing a front line shortstop with a winner's mentality. By that I dont mean Iglesias OR Machado. I don't know who will be available but it doesnt have to be the one with eye popping offensive numbers. It should be a guy similar to what Gagne was. Long term its prolly Lewis but Jeeze doesn't the front office owe something...Anything to the fans?? I would feel better if in this off season we address the glaring needs that are obvious to even the casual fan. Shortstop, 2nd base,( sorry Forsythe you are not the answer) closer, and one or two veteran starters that know how to win not necessarily aces(I miss you Lance Lynn). on last thing...Why do I always cringe when someone mentions Aaron Hicks and on the other channel J.R. Murphy is striking out for the fourth time in the D-Backs game.