Riverbrian

I won't argue that this Buxton maneuver was service time driven. However... In my opinion, it probably would have happened with or without the presence of Johnny Field. If service time is indeed the reason (I think it is). Johnny Field wouldn't be the player that clears the way for this to happen. In my opinion, The Buxton situation is about Buxton only.

I think there is value in putting the ball consistently in play. All those nasty K's will kill the ole' BA. He also might be one of the guys who benefits from major league pitching because the pitching is better. He seems to be able to hit anything so he might be able to take advantage of pitchers that are around the plate more. I'm hoping he is one of those guys who can you just toss the minor league stats away and let him write a new MLB book. I'm not predicting anything for him. But... based on what I'm seeing right now. He can certainly play on this current Twins team.

Let's you and I get something very clear. You are using the words "Obtuse" and "Simpleminded" and attaching it to me... STOP DOING THAT. You are escalating the discussion with your perception of my intention and if you are using "Obtuse" or "Simpleminded" you are miles away from what I think and putting words in my mouth to make your point about what is coming out of my mouth. Don't do that. You will not find a single post on Twinsdaily where I use those words or any words that mean anything close to that. When I question Molitor it is because I have questions. I do and I am asking them. And for the future... If you wish to debate my questions, thoughts or convictions... feel free... I post them for debate. But do not ever take your debate to ridiculous levels wayyyyyy beyond the border to prove your point, such as "Molitor was the brains and finances behind 9/11". That post has no substance whatsoever and all you are trying to do, when you do that, is minimize my point as ridiculous and do the same to me simultaneously. That is you intentionally showing me a complete lack of respect. If I were to respond back "Yeah You'd vote for Molitor for President" or "Bobby Wilson is the next Johnny Bench". It wouldn't be an accurate representation of your thoughts. It would just be extreme garbage to be an ******* on purpose. I won't do that. Back to the discussion... I'm asking specifically about Catcher in regards to Bobby Wilson. I would have loved to see him play both 3B and C. Yes I'm all for flexibility although I don't believe Astundillo in CF or 2B is what I mean by flexibility. Take a step further... Now that Astundillo is playing catcher... Who is playing 1B? That would be Chris Gimenez. This is why I have questions. I am allowed to ask them.

The 40 day thing is quite possible because I really don't have another reason that makes sense. However... the 40 day thing leads to more questions. 1. As Nick says... How do they move him off the plate for 40 days in consideration of our organizational depth chart? 2. When you consider that he has over 2000 innings behind the plate does the 40 days really matter. 3. When you consider that the other teams move players around on the fly in the midst of playoff races. Shaw to 2B and Schoop to SS with the Brewers and Indians acquired Josh Donaldson and then moved Jose Ramirez to 2B and Jason Kipnis to CF to accommodate. Yes it's not catcher but what are they afraid of. All in all... I don't care about Astundillo... I hope he makes a career for himself but I'm not counting on it. But... I do care about the decisions that Wilson is the primary catcher and Astundillo can't catch as we suffer through a .523 OPS unnecessarily. So if those 40 days were the reason. It only brings up more concerns and as I watch the Brewers, Indians, Dodgers, Cubs slide players around on a dime while in contention... I'm wondering why we can't when we are out of contention.

It's impossible to know and it kinda drives me crazy. Does Molitor have complete control of these decisions? Are the pitchers hand picking their catchers? Are these decisions being strongly suggested by superiors? Are they by conference? For the record... I have no problem with Bobby Wilson getting a chance but after getting that chance... at some point... someone in the organization has to look at what he did with that chance and consider it in context of what was happening on the field. We were dead in the water from the right side of the plate. Buxton was missing pitches by two feet, Sano was going to set the strikeout record. Dozier was in the .600 OPS Range and Wilson was our primary catcher. Look at his current .523 OPS and then consider his career .577 OPS... and then notice that he is 35 years old and move on. We could all see that Garver had some noticable defensive issues so I can kind of understand Garver being the secondary catcher, even if he had the best right handed offensive stats on the team when all our right handers were belly up. I assumed that Astundillo wasn't able to catch because he wasn't competent. Turns out that he is looking competent so far. Astundillo should have caught during his first time up instead of sitting for 14 days.

Nothing was his fault? Or have you just reached the point where you are dismissing anything I mention directly out of hand.

I did not know that. How was he able to disguise his involvement?

The CBA was negotiated by big boys staring across the table at each other. The CBA is an Acronym for: Collective - A group representation. Bargaining - Terms and Conditions were negotiated. Agreement - Both Parties AGREED on the terms. Once the agreement is in place, the two parties will utilize the agreement to guide their future decisions. If there was an oversight or mistake made by either party during the negotiation and agreement. It is not the job of the other party to go back to table and say... I'm sorry we have a clear advantage and we would like to give that advantage back in the name of fairness. If you read the actual CBA... Service Time Management is tacitly encouraged. The "Good Faith" covenant is all they got and it seems to be working (a little) because JT Realmuto wasn't sent down to the New Orleans Baby Cakes to gain the extra year while the Marlins are clearly out of it. The Owners clearly won the negotiation and the MLBPA failed to predict the result of analytics taking over every front office. The biggest issue is going to be peak value and years of control. Once the front offices decided not to give out long term contracts to decline phase players and they collectively did that this off season, in my opinion, this was a paradigm shift that will lead to the MLBPA to insist on players reaching free agency at peak value, therefore at a younger age. The Owners won't want to give that up and I'm prepared for a strike or lockout or something that will ruin my summer. The radical solution is this: No first year player draft at all. Just like I can choose to work wherever I'd like as long as someone will hire me.

That ends up being 5.1 innings of no-hit baseball caught by Astundillo. From a veteran pitcher and not the AAA guys that Molitor usually lets Astundillo catch. Still haven't seen anything that justifies Wilson being necessary because of defensive considerations. I continue to wonder why Astundillo did not catch during his first visit. With all due respect to Paul Molitor: Could this be a case of Astundillo being called up for the utility role and Molitor being so insistent on clearly defined roles that he would not deviate and let Astundillo catch? Some sort of obsessive compulsive manager style? How did Wilson become our #1 Catcher? How was Wilson able to block Astundillo from playing time at Catcher on a team starving for offense?

Service time management or manipulation is a plausible explanation. Johnny Field is a separate issue in my opinion.

Just for clarity. It has been "I" along with a small minority of others who have been consistent in complaining about providing opportunity for others and therefore maybe getting lucky and finding a Max Muncy. The people who complain about others getting a chance is probably the majority. The contradiction you reference is coming from two different view points but you make it sound like there is some sort of waffling going on. BTW... the majority is wrong.

I'll qualify that with "hit" OK for a catcher in Scranton and Trenton. His ceiling is mediocre in my opinion. Give him time... he just might get there.

No doubt. Bottom Line... It's always the people who hire the people.

In order to get that job in Texas, Boston or the Cubs. I'd assume they will have improved us along the way. If that it the case. Congratulations are in order and I wish them the best in Texas, Boston or the Cubs. If Texas, Boston or the Cubs, hire them and the Twins are still struggling. That will also be great news because we will be ready for a new approach and both Texas and Boston are in the American League and that would be helpful as well.

Use them options. Stash in Rochester. Call him up when needed.

I question weather we should count on Rosario, Polanco and Berrios. We tried that counting on people stuff this year and it didn’t work out.

I don't know if Buxton would have caught that specific ball. The ball wasn't in the air that long. He's fast no doubt but that looper looked like it required a whole nother level of fast. If Buxton would have caught that ball... it would have saved us three runs. Which would have prevented a crooked number, Which was my way of agreeing with you. Peter Bourjos was 24 before he turned 31.

Just to show how easy it is. Finding average to below average players isn't a Ringo Starr song. It's a Buddy Holly Song.

I admit I was watching the Vikings and Twins at the same time and probably more Vikings than Twins. I didn't see every single pitch or situation today but from what I did see and have seen before... Astundillo LOOKS CATCHING CAPABLE!!! I am going to continue to wonder out loud on these airwaves. Why didn't Astundillo catch during his first call up? He was up for 18 games. He didn't play in 11 of those 18 games. He came off the bench for 3 of those 18 games and he made 4 starts, 2 at 3B, 1 at 2B and 1 at DH. Choosing Bobby Wilson over Astundillo is hard to explain at this moment.

I'll also add that I'm sure the pitchers loved having Buxton in CF saving their butt on occasion. I've heard that the pitchers preferred to pitch to Bobby Wilson. Offense was what carried us last year. Buxton and Wilson helped kill our offense this year (not just those two) to a 20th ranking in team OPS and those defensive preferences led our pitching staff to 23rd in Team ERA. I'm not sure I understand what was accomplished in the end other than we ended up selling at the trade deadline.

I agree with you. I think I understand what you are saying. I believe crooked numbers are often the difference between winning and losing. I also believe that extra outs or stolen hits are major factors in producing or preventing a crooked number. When Byron Buxton makes a catch that no one else can make it is hard to quantify exactly what he prevented by taking away a triple with nobody out and turning it into one out with nobody on. I personally believe that each time is potentially big. It's all a matter of sequencing of course but I do agree with you. I've seen it many times while coaching 15 year olds and while watching the Twins nearly every night for going on a hundred years now. From Bartman to Ervin Santana not getting that 3rd strike call against Didi Gregerious before he homered in the 1st inning of our playoff game last year. Each moment that is gained or lost to create an out can be (often is) full of consequence. However... Peter Bourjos is having a hard time finding a job because he just couldn't hit enough and Buxton has got to hit to avoid being Bourjos because the routine defensive play that nearly all can make is the norm in the major leagues.

Oops.. editing it now.

I know this is a Falvey-Lavine discussion and talking about the previous regime tends to take things off the rails but in my opinion... The previous regime dealt Falvey-Lavine a 3 of Diamonds and 8 of Clubs. Therefore... It's relevant to the discussion. I'll add to your point. I'm not that concerned about the playoff wins. You gotta make the playoffs to get a playoff win. I have two serious points of contention right now and my hope is that Falvey and Lavine will be the people who fix it... pronto. 1. Since Target Field opened April 12, 2010. The Twins have the 2nd worst record in baseball. 650 Wins 791 Losses for a 45.1 Winning Percentage. Only the Marlins have a worse record over that span. 2. Since Target Field opened... we have not produced or acquired a SUPERSTAR!!! Not one. Rosario or Berrios might get there but they haven't got there yet in my opinion. Those two things together should be hard to accomplish simultaneously . The Marlins have been worse but they did manage to produce Giancarlo Stanton, Jose Fernandez and Christian Yelich. Bad records means high draft picks, bad players means more opportunity to locate a different player. It took a concentrated commitment to mediocrity to achieve this. It took a front office saying we have Trevor Plouffe, we are set at 3B, we don't need to find anyone better. It took consistent failure to develop a 1st round pick since Joe Mauer in 2001 or maybe Denard Span in 2002 to accomplish it. Maybe we can count Hicks in 2008 or Kyle Gibson in 2009 as an example of development, but we only really had one decent year of Gibson and we really didn't get to enjoy any of Aaron Hicks playing well. Speaking of trades, It took lack of activity in the trade market to accomplish it. The Twins have made 54 trades since 2003 and that is the 2nd lowest. They committed to mediocrity, didn't try to improve it and were unable to develop anyone who could surpass it. The reason we don't have playoff wins is because we don't have wins to get us to the playoff. With the 2nd worst record in baseball since Target Field opened. This roster should have been fully stocked for Falvey and Lavine to work with. It wasn't.

Give him time. My wife is high character and she didn't talk to me for a week when I accidentally mowed over the tulips.

Agreed