ashbury

Until 2016 he played more SS than 2B in the minors. Even with 2016 the ratio is still toward SS. If they concluded anything about him at SS, it was from watching him try to play it for six seasons. Granting that the farther back one goes, the more one should discount whatever was seen, I still dislike the narrative that the Twins force-fed him at 2B and ignored the potential value of developing a good-stick shortstop. They tried. And he doesn't pass the eye test for me; maybe further development and improvement is possible, that is the real art of evaluation of young'uns.

Until 2016 he played more SS than 2B in the minors. Even with 2016 the ratio is still toward SS. 2015 counts as "recent", and he played 83 games at SS with Chattanooga, and only 8 at 2B; in Rochester he played no innings at 2B at all. If they concluded anything about him at SS, it was from watching him try to play it for six seasons, 2010-15. Granting that the farther back one goes, the more one should discount whatever was seen, and basically throw out age 16 and 17, I still dislike the narrative that the Twins abandoned him to 2B and ignored the potential value of developing a good-stick shortstop. Everyone recognizes the value of that, and IMO they tried. And he doesn't pass the eye test for me. Maybe further development and improvement is possible at his age - that is the real art of evaluation of young'uns, and I'm just a patzer. My interpretation of 2016 in Rochester: the brain trust said, we think he slots in better at 2B - let's find out if he's actually consistent there, instead of guessing and assuming, by playing him every day and letting him get comfortable. Nothing wrong with that IMO. And then Dozier crossed them up with a career year on a dismal team.

I haven't watched Polanco so many times as to be an expert, but the random sample of times he's played for my viewing pleasure has me pegging him as decent range with a sub-par arm for SS. People say he should work on strengthening the arm - like, that hasn't already been tried? If on a 1-to-10 scale for major league SS defense, where 5 is average (meaning damn good among all humans) and 1 means most players because they just can't play the position, I'd put Escobar at about a 4 and Polanco a 3. Escobar's fine as a utility player but a mild liability as a SS starter; Polanco a bit more so. But on a similar scale for SS offense, where 5 is again average (and below par for any other position on the field), Escobar's about a 6 and Polanco looks like potential to be an 8. He won't be in ARod territory (who else is?), but he could eventually deliver .300+ BA year after year, with a little pop and hopefully an improving walk rate as he gets experience. He could win Silver Slugger for his position some years. He's not a maybe, like Florimon was. You kind of have to keep him unless some GM knocks you over with a starting pitcher offer. Polanco needs to play 2B but is blocked. For a last place team, it's not the end of the world to stash Polanco at SS rather than trade him for less than full value. That doesn't mean he's a SS, long term. Actually, I suspect Dozier at SS and Polanco at 2B would be marginally stronger defensively, but that's not going to happen, for reasons of clubhouse chemistry and so forth; you may wish otherwise, but teams just don't move veterans very often. Long term, Dozier will eventually depart. I think right now it's just not expedient to trade Dozier, for business reasons, due to this late HR outburst; I expect fans' valuation of our second baseman has increased far more than competing GM's valuation has. That's why this dilemma is even up for discussion, and IMO will continue into 2017 if not all the way through it.

I don't know. Show us some video of how you throw your changeup.

My deep analysis: it HAD to be something like that. You're welcome.

Oklahoma? Scientists? I think my brain jus' asplode. http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i212/Kerrah_photos/Exploding-head.gif

Let him be on a plane where the hijackers say "all the Americans raise their hands," and see how he feels then. / USians being well known for pretending to be Canadian in such situations...

I ran across this thread again by accident. When this post was written, Polanco had 37 major league plate appearances in the season. Since then, it looks like the youngster will finish the season with something in the neighborhood of 250. Let's give credit for him getting his chances; he's starting nearly every day in a lost season.

I don't know the purposes behind this rule governing the AFL, but a move like this one to circumvent it suggests that the rules may get changed next time the powers-that-be sit down to think about things.

It was momentary fun and I got caught up in it too. In fact it was the play that had the most statistical impact on the game's outcome. But his other two plate appearances were easy outs to the outfield. I didn't pay enough attention to his swing, but if he's still uppercutting the ball, he's going to finish out the season as he started it, with a low batting average that doesn't produce power often enough to compensate. With his speed, line drives ought to be the goal, so that the occasional ball goes out of the park when he hits it a little too high and he has a chance to leg out a single when he hits it a little too low. I think the problem continues to be pitch recognition - is the uppercut intended to partially compensate for the ball being perennially below where he thinks it will be? I'm no batting coach, though.

Welp, three innings or so, still to go. These West Coast games are too much for me. Have to leave it to the rest of you to bring this game home.

Zuke with a nice AB for the rib!

Gah, Bremer going on and on about Buxton's speed getting to that flare that pretty much any outfielder except Willingham would have reached.

Shhhh! We didn't want him to find the awful jokes at his expense buried on page.... well, we didn't.

PLOUFFE!!!!

Maybe if they stopped rewarding teams for lighting the fire, those teams would try harder to put a good product on the field.

I was pretty sure you did, and I wanted to be clear.

Ah yes, Ian "Mr Falsetto" Stewart, the juggler.

Careful. I got caught in a jinx, going down that route an inning or two ago.

FTFY, for additional clarity.

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You've heard of ROM on a computer, Read Only Memory? Game Threads are the answer to that. Write Only Memory.

Yes, that was the gist of the discussion. Do not trouble yourself to read it in detail, you will merely confirm my statement.

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You're welcome.