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Riverbrian

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Everything posted by Riverbrian

  1. Riverbrian
    This is a subject for another thread but I think the Twins are lucky that Dombroski and Williams are in the same division as us. Dombroski didn't learn his lesson from the last time he tried to bash his way to a title with the Sheffield Gang. It didn't work and they had to make some changes to bring in defense and here they are back again Trying to bash their way to a title. It won't work just like it didn't work last time. Williams does the same stuff as well in my opinion.
  2. Riverbrian
    With the exception of Tags. The reality is that players will take the extra base on an OF like Doumit... More often than Revere. . The reason... Revere gets to the ball faster and in better positin to make a throw with His speed and range. That is what runners use to decide if they are going or not. Where is the OF and where is the ball. I haven't seen an example of a base gained because of Bens arm this year. There will be some to come (not many) but I haven't seen it yet.
  3. Riverbrian
    My question is... how many times did you indeed see the extra base taken? Way too much is made out of Bens arm and there were times when it was embellished to the point of silliness. I still think he should be playing left but the arm issue is such a minor thing. OF range every day and twice on Sunday.
  4. Riverbrian
    Im not clamoring... I'm confused... Gardy never seemed to show any patience with Casilla. He seemed to have a different comfort level with Punto and Tolbert. Im not sure why... I've always been comfortable with Alexi as a backup or whatever. I will point out that His best years came with full time play but my comfort level stops when the big money comes knocking.
  5. Riverbrian
    I am slightly confused about Casilla. I really don't understand why he doesn't get more playing time. He's not Robinson Cano... I get that but he's a pretty nice defensive player with good speed and it's not like he can't reach base from time to time. In the context of this team it seems like he should have a little bigger role than he has. There must be something about Casilla that is bugging Gardenhire cuz he's been on the outside looking in for awhile now. They keep trying to pencil him in and he keeps getting taken out and there doesn't seem to be any patience with him. Casilla has some value because of his speed, defense and experience and age. For those reasons... I'd love for the Twins to keep him instead of cashing in that value for a low level prospect. I'm a Carroll fan... He's a ballplayer. The thing is Carroll's age and my opinion that the Twins need to get younger. Casilla would be my choice between the two for that reason. Valencia on the other hand. He will end up a bench player for someone. Either the Twins or someone else but I don't see much trade value for him. He lost his job to no one. That is a pretty loud statement. We don't have a third baseman to replace you and we are going with that option. Will someone take a chance on him... I suppose but he seems like the guy who can be that player that Burroughs was supposed to be out of spring training if he has improved in Rochester... And that I don't know. I haven't been able to watch him play since the demotion. Trevor Plouffe is without question the 3b for now and Tomorrow in Minnesota.
  6. Riverbrian
    He sure was. But no Halle Barry.
  7. Riverbrian
    Where's Mauer in this? Can't you make a third one? lol
  8. Riverbrian
    No Biggie. This whole side discussion in my mind is a thin branch for anyone to climb on. Myself included! However, it's an interesting thin branch to be on in my opinion. I don't think Clutch is the right word that I'm searching for. The Problem is that I'm still searching for that concise description of what I consider to be an extremely complicated thing. My thing I guess can be stripped down to "odds of success increase with good swings and good swings can be mental in nature."
  9. Riverbrian
    When I think of Joe... I think of the Sweet Swing... Flawless... Best in baseball... Or at least that I've seen. When it comes to Joe and his power. I still believe that's it's possible to see it again. He hit's the ball hard enough. So we are talking about a slight adjustment to the angle of his swing. I don't think it's a leg strength issue.
  10. Riverbrian
    Does anyone think that Joe Mauer would change his approach at the plate if slotted #2. It would be crazy if he would cuz his approach while batting in the #3 is about what you look for in a #2. I'm not talking about individual at-bats to different situations. I'm talking overall. Joe in the #2... Just makes sense... Even if the only reason is that he will see 15 more at-bats hitting #2 as compared to #3 and everyone else can move up one spot in the order.
  11. Riverbrian
    Agreed... It has nothing to do with Talent level in my opinion and it could be Pujols and Francoeur as examples. But this is the starting point in my opinion of determining the make up of a player. After that... you factor in the "When does a player feel that pressure and it's different for everyone and it can't be quantified. Then Factor in: Even if Francouer wants that job... Will he be confident and put a good swing on the ball or will he get over aggressive and wave at 3 pitchers around his eyeballs. I think the only way to overcome this pressure thing is to put yourself under it all the time. Treat every game during the season and every at bat like it's the 7th game of the World Series. Think of it as training yourself for the moment. It's easy to say and nearly impossible to implement. 162 games in a year... Complacent Play, Self Doubt, Over Confidence and dealing with failure more often then success is a major part of the game.
  12. Riverbrian
    Think of the Movie Swordfish... Take the scene where the computer hacker meets the Travolta character for the first time. Now Remove the Gun and the Girl but Leave the Pressure. OK... Leave the girl if it makes you feel good. I know it's the movies but that's an example of someone elevating his game. Also consider that the same computer hacker could be hitting some golf balls off his roof and decide to go back in his trailer and make a routine hack job for small stakes and screw it up because it was just another routine day.
  13. Riverbrian
    To me... This is the essence of my problem with the sole use of statistics. Too much human element in the game of baseball to be quantified accurately. Trevor Plouffe can't be explained with stats... His stats alone would normally get him cut. He got hot... Why... In my opinion... He was able to stop pressing and started swinging at better pitches to hit and he started to hit and it snowballed. Let's see what happen when his timing gets off again. Baseball is exactly what you say... It's a game of failure and dealing with that failure is the issue. Stats can't quantify when players press or don't press. They can't quantify when they step in the bucket or pull off the ball. They can only quantify how they have done so far and if a player gets it all put together. The old stats don't really mean much at all. It's a whole new ball game.
  14. Riverbrian
    Let me ask everyone this question. In the Major Leagues... Forget about any other level... In the Major Leagues... Let's say Game 162 of the year... A win gets you into the playoffs... A loss and you are out. Down by one run.... Bottom of the ninth... Two Outs Runners on 1st and 2nd. Does anyone believe that there are players who are absolutely thrilled to draw a walk in that situation? Does anyone believe that there are players who are pissed that they drew a walk? Yes and Yes is my answer.
  15. Riverbrian
    I agree with everything you say... We all have our own perceptions on players that are hard to shake. Now factor in the opponent. Moments in pressure for a hitter could also be moments of pressure for a pitcher and he's battling his own demons. Basically, I'm saying that I believe that moments of pressure come and they can make a hitter grip the bat too tight and cause a pitcher to open his shoulders and over stride when the chips are down. The hitter that keeps his head can still strikeout to a pitcher that has kept his head or he can rope a line drive to Centerfielder for an out and the pitcher can make a great pitch that gets golfed out of the park by a guy who is shaking in his boots. It's impossible to quantify because there are so many factors but in the end we are talking about the decrease and increase of odds from a mental standpoint and I believe it.
  16. Riverbrian
    lol... Great minds think a like... (sometimes obviously)... I noticed that you posted it after I posted. Was reading chronologically and responded and returned to read the rest and there you were. It's funny how many people believe Mauer should be in the 2 hole. More At Bats... Good spot for his patience and contact and power of lack of.
  17. Riverbrian
    You are right Paul... I don't know why I did... I guess over the past couple of days I've been pretty strong on my feelings about quotes and unnecessary attacks on players and realize that I probably came on too strong even though I still fully believe what I typed. I don't want to be heated in discussion anymore... I want to get back to plain ol' discussion and I probably just threw fuel on another fire I'd just as soon not be lit. I guess I just wanted to clarify that no matter what. My opinion is still only my opinion and it's the same for everyone here even those I disagree with. I'd still buy everyone a beer. Well not everyone cause I don't have that much money. You Paul... I'd find a way to buy ya a beer.
  18. Riverbrian
    I'm not sure where to put that one but I assume it was directed at me. I know that I'm wrong frequently but like everyone else who is also wrong frequently... I'm not going to recognize when I am. I apologize if I've crossed some line in this discussion by saying that I believe it and part of that reason is based on playing and coaching.
  19. Riverbrian
    I'm not saying I'm right... I'm saying I believe it. In my opinion... These guys haven't spent their entire lives in pressure situations. There is such a thing as a routine baseball game and routine at bat or routine pitch that you've made a 1,000 times before and those moments far out pace the pressure filled moment. It's a mental game and your head can do some things to you. It's impossible to quantify so I have no chance but I'm just saying that I believe it.
  20. Riverbrian
    Another thing to consider is this. Players reach the major leagues because of their skills. They can choke in the state championship and still be drafted in the first round because the scouts rate their power at a 70 and arm strength at a 65. Those players can also be moved up the ladder based upon potential and good numbers put up during routine baseball games. That can all change when they face Kershaw for the first time or it can all change when they face the 10th round pick out of Baylor in rookie ball. Or it can change when game is on the line. Self doubt or pressing to be the guy can change what you do. In my opinion it's why some first rounders don't pan out. I could be wrong but I believe it. Its a game of timing and repeating that timing against what your head can do to you is a challenge.
  21. Riverbrian
    Players change mechanics without knowing it in times of no pressure. They can all of a sudden start swinging at pitches they had no problem laying off before. A swing can get just a tad slow or a tad faster. It can be just another Sunday during a road trip in May without a care in the world when something is different. It's a game of timing... Timing can and does get disrupted and then hopefully they find it again. Pressure would be like a concentrated dose of these routine breakdowns or for some its the moment they were built for and they become more in tune. I believe it's real. Doesn't mean I'm right but yeah some players seem to thrive and other don't and it has very little to do with ability in my opinion.
  22. Riverbrian
    Pressure is Pressure. High school pitcher talent faces high school batter talent. Professional faces professional. It's all the same. It could... And I'm saying could... explain Plouffes performance with Runners on base for example. He could be changing his approach or mindset with the RBI in front of him and he could do it without realizing it and press and he changes his odds with early or late swings or mechanical errors. Overtime he could become more comfortable in his baseball skin and stop pressing in those situations. If thats what he's actually doing. I also do not discount in the case of Plouffe that his solo homer descepency is just coincidence.
  23. Riverbrian
    I've been coaching awhile myself and you see exactly what Jokin is talking about in players. When the situation gets tighter. Some players are going to keep their composure and perform more like themselves or elevate. Some players are going to press and change what they normally do or they can't slow down the game because of nerves. It's not a numbers thing to be quantified. It's about good swings and good pitches. Keeping it together to increase your odds. A good swing can be caught and a bad swing can bloop one in. the odds are with the guy who can keep his mechanics or keep his head when every fiber of his being is praying for a hit. With more playoff or pressure experience... More at bats or pitches thrown in pressure situations... In my opinion it would become more routine and less pressure filled as it goes. This is why playoff experience can be valuable and is sought after.
  24. Riverbrian
    Mauer would be a perfect 2... I'd move Revere down to the 9 spot to feed the turnaround.
  25. Riverbrian
    I think you are right Glunn. I'm hoping for a Morneau Plouffe like streak for July.
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