Oldgoat_MN

It seems that I didn't do a great job of outlining my positioning and this is a solid summary. Schoop didn't distance himself from the low-OBP guy he's always been, and his offense wasn't great overall. He did hold down the position until a long-term suitor emerged, and provided plenty of value on a one-year deal.

The Schoop signing seemed to work just as Falvine must have wanted it to. Schoop came in, was dependable for a season, and the Twins found their guy for 2020 and beyond in Arraez.

Context: 
1. When Schoop was signed in December 2018, Sano had offseason question marks, having had the traffic incident with a cop and had missed the end of the 2018 season.
2. At the point Schoop was signed, Gordon was not considered ready, and Arraez wasn't generally seen as an option. Without those, Gonzalez was probably their best option at 2B.
3. Sano would miss the first part of the season, meaning Gonzalez had to fill 3B for the first month and a half.
4. When Sano returned on May 16, Schoop had started 36 of 42 games at 2B, allowing Gonzalez to start 30 of 42 games at 3B.
5. Through those 42 games, Schoop's OPS was .823. That's impressive production from (mostly) the 7 hole on a team that would have an .833 OPS for the year in a league where the average OPS was .762.
6. Though Schoop would only start 64 of the remaining 120 games at 2B, he still ended up with an above-league average .783. His presence allowed Arraez and Gonzalez to move around, spelling others and allowing the team to start someone other than Cave when Buxton got hurt.
 
So no, Schoop didn't carry the team offensively, but he wasn't asked to. What he did do was fill a significant hole without tying up future money. And from what I can tell, while playing well defensively. I also don't recall hearing anything negative about him as a clubhouse presence.
 
I don't know what their other options were on the free agent market at the time, but I think it worked out quite well. 

Considering Brian Dozier got a bigger contract with Washington, the Twins did pretty good. The thought of Schoop being more than a stopgap...naw. At best, he could've been a tradable asset in July, but because of the team's standing it didn't happen. He is still young and rebuilt his career a bit. Should be able to land a decent multi-year contract, but not with the Twins.
 
A good signing. Didn't cost you anything but money.
 

The only reason you would trade him is if the value received was more important to the team, like a number one or two rotation arm. Just like the talk about trading Rosario, the question is - what is either really worth on the open market.

Not sure how much of next year Dyson will even be available for. 
 
I suspect they'll sign CJ Cron. The Gibson issue is more complex. While he may have been injured, he simply wouldn't throw strikes when he should have. I hate him going to a 3-2 count nearly every at bat.
I doubt the injury had a great deal to do with that.

I am excited about signing a stud pitcher, but I have to say there is only one Verlander - he is great.

Two weeks ago everyone wanted Cave cut.

At this point I really don't know why they don't have Berrios skip a start or two. He's of little value to us as he is now.
Thanks for the article. Interesting stuff. 
I hope they get this kid back on track...

Killebrew was hitting HRs at a rate of 7+% in an era when non-pitchers were hitting them at about a 2.3% rate. That's three times the rate of the league.
 
Just for context...
If Max Kepler was hitting HRs at 3x the league average in 2019 (non-pitchers)...his current 501 PA would give him 58 HR on the season. Needless to say, nobody hits home runs at the rate of 3x league average anymore.

I agree, but how does our rotation and pen match the others?  We did not match well with Cleveland this past series.
 

To be fair, 'respectfully disagree' was stated in the original post.
I think this is more about the personal attacks some writers, like Ruesse, have made toward others simply because they have a different opinion.
I personally post here less often because of ridicule. Most of that was because I didn't want the Twins to trade a guy that many others were saying should be traded.
I'm not always right, but in this case that player's name is Eddie Rosario.

To be fair, 'respectfully disagree' was stated in the original post.
I think this is more about the personal attacks some writers, like Ruesse, have made toward others simply because they have a different opinion.
I personally post here less often because of ridicule. Most of that was because I didn't want the Twins to trade a guy that many others were saying should be traded.
I'm not always right, but in this case that player's name is Eddie Rosario.

To be fair, 'respectfully disagree' was stated in the original post.
I think this is more about the personal attacks some writers, like Ruesse, have made toward others simply because they have a different opinion.
I personally post here less often because of ridicule. Most of that was because I didn't want the Twins to trade a guy that many others were saying should be traded.
I'm not always right, but in this case that player's name is Eddie Rosario.

Cron is arbitration eligible again for 2020. If he keeps up this production it should be a no brainer to tender him.

Astudillo has impressed me as being a "baseball player". He is aware of what goes on during a game, and is involved. Like Rosario, Puckett, Oliva, and some other "bad ball" hitters he needs to determine which bad balls to lay off of. I think he will. I am a little surprised by the shade thrown at his glove. One comment was that he had flexibility but wasn't good at any position. That comment on itself doesn't make sense. Players who aren't good at any position aren't flexible, they are likely the 4th OF. You don't get sent to three IF positions, two OF ones, and catch if you aren't any good at any of the positions. That doesn't mean you are a gold glove winner at anyone of them, but you are easily adequate. If that were not the case Sano would be an OF, Gonsales would catch, and Buxton would be at second base. Trust me, none of this will happen! Lastly, while Garver has worked hard and made his glove work less offensive, I don't see anything remotely giving him an edge behind the plate defensively. Garver is a hitter who can catch. He is not a catcher who can hit. And yes, there is a difference.

Get on the turtle train. We can always make more room and it's slow enough that we won't have to stop so you can hop on

Never what you want to read about anyone in this sport, regardless of what team they play on. I know the term "thoughts and prayers" has almost become a joke online, but in a case like this where it is literally the only thing a non-doctor can do to help a stranger...
 
Thoughts and prayers to him, his family, and his teammates. 

I don't know about Arraez.
You usually want a guy to be hitting under .400 before you send him down.

I don't know about Arraez.
You usually want a guy to be hitting under .400 before you send him down.

I don't know about Arraez.
You usually want a guy to be hitting under .400 before you send him down.

I don't know about Arraez.
You usually want a guy to be hitting under .400 before you send him down.

I don't know about Arraez.
You usually want a guy to be hitting under .400 before you send him down.

The Tortuga Line. 

I don't know about Arraez.
You usually want a guy to be hitting under .400 before you send him down.