Jocko87

Lot better already, breathing is not over rated as it turns out.

No, I got my snoz fixed on Friday and didn’t feel up to it.

I’m average! Yay!

🤣 trademark that! They’re everywhere!

I didn’t see the article but it’s pretty obvious that he’s going to be making up missed minor league time in the major leagues. That’s tough for anyone including 1-1 guys. Don’t make it harder by having to be uncomfortable on both sides of the ball.

Farmer and Castro both have roughly 4000 professional plate appearances. Correa only has 5400 for comparison. That's plenty of time on the track. They both have two years where they were regulars and below average performers. As Denny Green would say, they are who we thought they were. I do agree we should ride the hot streak but the way to ride the hot streak is to keep them in favorable positions.

Farmer is what Castro will be be as well. If Farmer continues to get full time run, he will be exposed as the role player he is especially against RH pitching. I love players like both Castro and Farmer in that they do all the thankless things that hold a roster together but when in a full time role they often disappoint. This is an expectations problem rather than a player problem. Let Castro get some run but don't be surprised when hes struggling 3 weeks from now. Expecting either of them to be an average or better regular after years of track record that says otherwise is optimistic, even for me.

I'm not even concerned with busting games wide open, just produce runs in runs producing situations. The break outs will come and we will enjoy them thoroughly. Echoing on a small game thread discussion re: RBIs as an opportunity stat. Obviously this is true but what I don't understand is why they are discounted as not mattering. The stat heads (I am one) are missing a huge opportunity here for a success rate stat that can make them matter. Yes, the raw number is meaningless but the success rate in those situations is huge. It may be captured somewhat in the runs created stats but it doesn't look like it to me. My bottom line is that situational hitting is a measurable ability that can be statistically quantified. I don't know what the formula would be but the analytics folks have to adjust to observable truths. I get that over the long run more runs are scored by swinging for the fence but does that actually win more baseball games? Using the proper analytics in the proper situation is the whole in-game purpose of a manger.

I think that its a bit optimistic to think he can replace MAT on a 1 for 1 level much less as an upgrade to middle of the order bat. It both underestimates how solid MAT has been and overestimates the ability of someone with 40 MLB at bats to dominate. MAT isn't a world beater but we know we can count on his production. I also believe its more valuable to the team to have Farmer moving around the infield 3-4 times a week than MAT being a pinch runner, defensive replacement.

Or they are trying to make everything intriguing a starter. As an organizational philosophy I'm a huge fan of getting most pitching prospects a run at the bullpen in a non-mop up role. It's not the Twins way but I think it should be. Cut SWR and Balazovic loose for an inning at a time in plus situations. Get the feet wet in the bigs, throw hard and throw strikes. Get some important outs. It doesn't doom them to a life in the bullpen and may better prepare them to start in the future. Just using them in the 4-5 inning garbage spots isn't doing any long term good imo.

I mean, if Phillips could help in the bullpen?

This was a good and healthy time. If he's healthy, he comes up immediately. I'm want him at 3rd full time and I'll get to my reasons shortly. He's a 1-1 talent who is playing well on rehab and showing no effects of the injury. He's a building block of the franchise whether he/we like it or not. Much like Kirilloff, he has the prospect and talent capital that moves him to the front of the line barring injury. He has nothing to prove in the minors and the big club needs the exact help he can give. I'm not a scout but I have been watching his minor league at bats. He looks comfortable and confident, both at the plate and running. He is taking pitches very calmly, like he is seeing it well. How he adjusts to the big league pitchers adjusting to him is the next question to be answered and that happens in the big leagues. Now, the word of caution. As mentioned, the 48 games over 4 years means he will have some heavy adjusting to do. He will absolutely have a Miranda period. Do NOT be surprised if he has a 6 week period with .650 or less OPS. Along with freeing up Farmer this is the main reason for setting and forgetting at 3rd base. He needs to be in comfortable positions when possible as we can't have defensive confusion spilling into what are sure to be some offensive struggles. I'm fine hitting him leadoff as long as he's taking good at bats but don't be disappointed if he spends time in the 8/9 hole. Its part of the process. Get him up here and get it started.

Brent Rooker is on pace for 37.125 homers. A's on pace for 33.75 wins.

Its a great setting for a game. Shame to miss both Lee and Lewis but the top talent is still coming through. Maybe we will get a few good months of E-Rod and #5 pick together. Plenty of of interesting names coming.

Brooks Lee did play, went 0-4 and had one the oddest missed catches on a stolen base attempt I’ve seen in the top of the 8th.

I live here and those references are things but would never think to assemble them in that order.

Whats a turbo tub?

Interested to watch Zach Neto as well as the big guns. He should be a good Brooks Lee comparison.

I don't think we see a roster where a Castro type isn't on it. Lewis won't fill that role. Maybe Helman works his way into the discussion when he's healthy again but they value that versatility heavily with a 4 man bench. Castro needs to be evaluated differently that a standard position player as the ask is different. He's not getting good match ups or the chance scout his day at X spot. He gets the leftovers and is functional. His role is statistical sacrificial but very valuable.

Cano is a good story so far this year but we shouldn't crown him after 21 innings. Relief pitching is volatile, scouting has been updated and he has a correction coming. Good for him though, I'm always happy to see traded prospects do well.

He has 3 games in the minors. I'm speaking it into existence. If he can be functional while hitting RH it unlocks so many options for this roster and frankly, it may be his only path to consistent playing time long term.

They do an incredible job overall but also agreed as part of the last contract that they would work with MLB on the ABS system so nobody is making bad calls because of it. We are just hearing about it but it’s been on their minds for years. The challenge system is a non-starter for me. If the ABS is good enough just go with it. It can be done with most fans not even realizing something changed. The call of the ump on balls and strikes has never been an item that could be questioned so if we are going with tech don’t change that fundamental. I spent way to much time in the other thread explaining how none of the people eligible to challenge can actually see what they are challenging. The challenged calls at CHS all proved the ump right. It would be a mess. I’d almost want to be the first to get thrown out for arguing against ABS. As an aside, I’m also pretty much done with phases like “without repercussions” “never anything done” etc in this conversation. Like any of us knows a damn thing about what happens behind the scenes. If anyone has a copy of the contract I haven’t seen it. We don’t know details of if they are fined, pay docked, bad assignments, sent to the minors etc. I get that everyone remembers Cuzzi from way back but stop pretending we know things that aren’t in evidence. I would also argue that we shouldn’t know about umpire discipline except in the most egregious cases. Neither Cuzzi incident would qualify for me.

Left fielders, both of them. I’m not joking either. Maybe one of them will take to it well enough to play right. They can be in the 1B, DH, OF rotation if they hit. If not they will both struggle for playing time even on less stacked rosters. I’m sure both of them can play left as well as Gordon was playing center and that will be enough if they hit. We cannot have 30 grade defense at the prime positions. I’m convinced Lewis is the primary 3rd baseman when he comes up. There is no reason to move him anymore and we’ve seen the risk it brings. From both the team and player/agent side it’s the right move. Farmer can fill the role he’s designed for. Lewis/Lee/Polo is a future discussion. Let’s get Lewis settled and productive first. We are all tantalized with the kid but he needs a lot of game time to make up for the last 4 years of minimal game action. There will be struggles but he can still glove while he adapts. The less we move him around the better.

I'll take it!