Riverbrian

I agree with you. First impressions are hard to shake. I admit that I wasn't very comfortable with Garver defensively last year. I thought he was noticeably struggling during the first few months. I never worried about it much because defense can be improved with a little elbow grease. Just because someone is like something at age 26... doesn't mean he has to be that way at age 27. Garver seems to be proving that. This is what all the coaches get paid to do... to teach and develop and look what he have in Garver... Someone who is developing.

Yep... Odorizzi was most likely done regardless. Not responding to you directly or anyone directly... just in general to join in the discussion: There is no rule that states that Taylor Rogers had to be pinch hit for leading off the 6th. Meaning Rogers could have pitched the 6th and the 7th after he retired that single batter in the 5th that Vazquez didn't. 1-0 lead with the bases loaded and a starter that has to be pulled in the 5th. That's when you call on Rogers, the inning doesn't matter. Count me in the group that thinks Baldelli made a mistake with his bullpen choice that particular moment. But... I've already forgiven and I assume it won't be the last mistake he makes. I have no complaints to register.

My personal opinion (I know nothing about his defensive ability)... I believe that Kiriloff should playing both OF and 1B in Pensecola right now and do the same in Rochester if he moves up a level. Here's Why: We don't know what our needs will be when it's time to make that phone call. For example: Let's assume that Kiriloff is what is being reported by some "The 2nd Best hitter in the minor leagues behind Vlad Jr". Let's assume that Kiriloff rakes down in the minor leagues like Vlad Jr did last year. Let's assume the Twins are in playoff contention come July and August. What we don't know on April 12th, 2019 is this: Will Kepler, Rosario, Buxton or Cron be healthy in July and August or even September? Will Kepler, Rosario, Buxton or Cron be performing at a major league level in July, August or even September? We also don't know is who will be available to acquire in a trade come July? And August? In short... it is nearly impossible to anticipate and plan for our future needs until the future arrives. Choosing a position for Kiriloff on April 12th and locking him into that position may work out by luck however... it also contains a probability that it will force a clumsy move to a position that he hasn't been playing at the major league level to get his bat into the lineup. Making that clumsy move at the major league level while the team is in contention for a playoff spot could be labeled as simple lack of foresight and easily planned for on April 12th by playing Kiriloff at both 1B and OF in the minors until it's time to make that phone call based upon who get hurt or who is playing terrible and who we could possibly acquire. Just to prepare for the possibility that his special bat can help us during a playoff chase. Play him at both 1B and OF.

Exactly!!! I am so past the idea of a structured bullpen. This saving your top arms for the 8th and 9th is 1980’s thinking.

Never Mind Finding Middle Ground between us. This comment is right in my kitchen. We might as well share eggs this morning for breakfast. It is always about opportunity... Who gets it and who doesn't. Whose 2 month stretch of .900 OPS do you ignore and whose 2 month stretch of .900 OPS is the corner finally turned. It's like trying to teach a bear to ride a unicycle... you work at it for YEARS.. you focus on it until the bear can find finally ride the unicycle 5 years later. During those 5 years... You never paid attention to the monkey riding the unicycle... because everyone has a monkey who can ride a unicycle. Ultimately... we just need something to ride the unicycles.

I think we got some middle ground. I was one of those others. Big Power Hitting 1B/DH only types are all over the place. As for the odds that Austin won't do a lot in the majors. He won't without playing time. If he only plays 1B... he won't get the playing time.

I'm sorry you've formed that impression that I dismiss the role of scouting and projecting. My posts are already too long and too frequent but apparently not long enough or frequent enough for complete clarity. The only thing I can say is that "I don't dismiss these things". I want my front office to have every tool available... I want my front office to staff the 25 and 40 man rosters to the max. I want talent overflowing out of every corner of diamond. I want my manager to sit down at his desk and throw his hands up in the air because he has too much talent to work with and he can't decide who to play today because they all deserve playing time. I want my front office to project and be good at it... The GM must project forward if they don't they are no doing their job. I will trust them when they sign Max Kepler to a 7 year deal because I want to assume that they are using all the tools available to them, tools and information that isn't available to me. I recognize the limitations of a 25 and 40 man roster and I am rock solid in my belief that being a GM of a major league team is nothing like running a fantasy baseball team. I only got involved in the Kepler/Austin discussion to say: 400 scattered AB's is not a sufficient sample size to even discuss lefty/righty splits concerning Tyler Austin. I didn't introduce Kepler to the discussion but I did make the mistake of trying to participate in this already introduced side discussion. But Yeah... I am guilty of recognizing that the same projection system that identifies Ronald Acuna will also identify Logan Morrison and ultimately I want my front office to realize that they get it wrong from time to time because the margins are incredibly thin and that's why I want Plan B, C and D in place when Logan Morrison isn't what they projected him to be. I also want my front office to realize that players can render their past meaningless with a simple off-season adjustment and when a player starts kicking it into gear, I want them to get out of the way, put the damn projections down when a player confounds them and play the player. I believe if the front office would just let the players make their decisions for them via actual performance: They will end up with that roster I dream of, 25 guys who can play and a manager who is losing his hair trying to decide which talented player to play and which ones to sit, which leads to a front office that can take the extra players and trade them for more talent. But again... I just wanted to say that 1500 AB's and 400 AB's are not comparable. It was not my intention to denigrate Kepler in order to praise Austin.

Brock I get that. I get projections, defense and team context are reasons Kepler gets more of a chance then Austin does. The discussion was on left/right splits. Kepler 1400 to 1500 AB’s. Austin is still a small sample size. That was my point. If anyone wants to label Tyler Austin right now based on his 400 AB’s... go ahead but I’m not buying it. It’s all about opportunity and Austin hasn’t really had the same opportunity as others. And I absolute understand the reasons why.

I don't remember who posted it but I remember research being posted on Odorizzi and the pumpkin he turns into around 70 pitches. When does the organization declare that Odorizzi will be a 4 inning guy max?

414 Scattered AB's while burning up three options is a small sample size. The Giants may decide to platoon but that would be questionable because there isn't enough data to make that determination yet. The difference between Kepler and Austin is this... Kepler got to try again. Austin should finally get a chance to prove or not prove himself with the Giants... It's up to him now. He earns a job or he joins the run of the mill crew. It's up to him.

https://www.sfexaminer.com/sports/giants-give-an-early-start-to-tyler-austin-left-field-experiment/ Bochy looks like he is going to give it a shot.

The Giants Outfield isn't good so it doesn't say a ton to see Austin play in LF for that particular group of players. However... This is what I'll be watching regardless... If Austin can play in the OF and actually center himself under fly balls and squeeze. This would change the discussion and raise my deepest concern about any front office. I've asked for competition for all positions... Signing Cron provided that competition for Austin at 1B and this is what I want and what I will continue to want until the end of time. Although... Austin was cut before he got a real chance to beat Cron out of the position that Cron was handed. Regardless... I'm Ok with this... I want my front office to sign extra talent. However... If Austin can actually play OF... he becomes instantly more valuable than Cron in my opinion. If Austin can't play OF and the Giants just threw him out there and hoped the ball wouldn't be hit to left... Then Cron and Austin are just a couple of dime a dozen power hitting first basemen who you can find on the waiver wire and I won't lose much sleep. If Austin can play OF and if Austin hits... the Twins will have blown it.

Who needs a house out in Hackensack... Is that all you get for your money?

I'm not sure Joe Benson fits into your example but I believe you are correct on the overall point. There are a pile of hitter only 1B types with minor league contracts in AAA and a pile of them (all named Matt) who are backups at the major league level just waiting to be replaced by someone younger. If you can't play defense... they move you to 1B and it has caused a bottle neck with this ilk. Because Tyler Austin can only play 1B, his career will most likely be short unless he can turn himself into a young Pujols or something. Not being able to play OF forces him to fight his way through the hit only 1B bottleneck. There just isn't enough jobs. I believe in Tyler Austin and only question if Cron is actually better... but without the ability to defend elsewhere... Both Cron and Austin are eventual DFA material because there are Cron's and Austin's all over the place. When the Twins didn't play Austin in the OF during spring training... It was over for him. 30 Bombs a year 1B's are not as necessary now that middle infielders are hitting 20 Bombs.

This is how it works... The front office brought in competition for Mauer's replacement and they made their selection. They might be right... They might be wrong. These decisions are made on razor thin margins. I personally believe in Austin... I may be right... I might be wrong.

No... I won't be doing that. I could be wrong... if that happens, I'd be highlighting my wrongness.

Austin singles to center in his 2nd AB. He already leads the Giants in hits for the season.

#1 - If the Twins win 6 out of every 10 games. They will finish with 97 Wins. If the Twins split with the Mets they will start the season 6-4... RIGHT ON PACE BABY!!!! #2 - I'm Mr. Position Flexibility and I love the flexibility that Astudillo provides. However... he is the one guy that I would try to limit that flexibility with... the reason. He can CATCH... legitimately catch. He is not a defensive issue behind the plate. Take that bat behind the plate and you are instantly ahead of the rest of the league at the position from an offensive standpoint. #3 - Everybody was willing to overpay steeply for JT Realmuto... If Astudillo hits like Realmuto (right now he is hitting better than Realmuto)... Maybe Astudillo establishes similar value. If Astudillo can play defense... and it sure looks like he can and hit... what kind of value have you created? The Twins need to look long term and think value and give Astudillo the keys to the catching kingdom until he shows he can't produce. #4 - However... if the Twins insist on carrying three catchers... then Astudillo has to be used at 3B more often to get the AB's he deserves. #5 - Astudillo playing 3B until Sano gets back shouldn't be a problem. Marwin was signed as an "everyday utility player". The plan was to move him around... the Twins can always go back to that plan. Sano gets hurt and now Marwin is the everyday 3B... that "everyday utility player" designation sure must be fragile if that is all it took. That was 5 things to think about.

That home run was scary. If the can park it on that pitch... he can park it on any pitch. Forget Harper... Hoskins is the guy to watch in Philly.

I hope it works out for Tyler in San Francisco... He's got to stop this severe westward movement of his career. From New York to Minnesota to San Francisco... Next stop moving west for him will be Japan or South Korea... or the Solomon Islands.

The often stated dream of Austin having the ability to play some OF. The lingering question of is Cron better than Austin. He didn't play a single inning of OF in spring training so I've been assuming he just can't do it. If he could play some OF he wouldn't be headed to SF right now but he didn't play any OF so... I'll let my current assumption ring. And of course... He is starting tonight for the Giants and starting at 1B with Brandon Belt moving to LF. So for now... I'll just be watching to see who produces better... Cron or Austin... trying to compare and contrast in unique situations... National League... American League. I'm not saying my watching will do any good but that has never stopped me before.

I'm going to be watching how the Giants deploy Austin... Keenly attentive to see what the Giants do with him. What the Giants do... will answer questions about what the Twins didn't do. .

Humor Comments after the loss suggested we were miles from competing with the likes of the Phillies. It was humor.

It does However... Crystal Ball options are unlimited... The Magic 8 Ball is limited to whatever is printed up and placed inside.

When I was kid you get one of those crystal balls at Woolworths for .99 cents.