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TheLeviathan

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Everything posted by TheLeviathan

  1. TheLeviathan
    How are they not scarce? Scarcity means, by definition, that there isn't enough to meet demand. That is almost certainly true. So I'm not sure that's the point you're actually making?
  2. TheLeviathan
    I disagree that it is easy on any hand. I'm all for providing opportunity to players with upside, but if it was at all easy to identify than everyone would be doing it. This kind of identification is what separates the wheat from the chaff. Good front offices should be trying, of that I am in lock-step agreement. But it isn't easy to achieve. And if now we're arguing about trying to turn formerly non-productive players into productive ones...I'm all for that too. Hell, the Twins should be doing that with Adrianza if that's the new center of the debate. What needs to be acknowledged, however, is that scarcity and the talent landscape are clearly against the argument that Adrianza can be replaced with ease. In fact, the scarcity and talent landscape indicate the Twins are already at an advantage here relative to most teams.
  3. TheLeviathan
    Sure, but there aren't 750 good players. Even good teams, with a lot of money, end up rostering guys we wouldn't call "good". That isn't because all of these teams are too stupid to sign the good players. Or too cheap. There just simply aren't enough of them. The scarcity of such players is a reason to buy in to your flexibility idea, but even then there are limits because the scarcity is pretty significant. And when it's this significant, it needs to be remembered when we just flippantly throw around ideas like "Welp, we should just get a better player!" It's not that simple and I say that in agreement that we should acquire better players. It's worth pointing out, however, that relative to the rest of the league (which, frankly, is hte only context that truly matters) - the Twins are doing alright having Adrianza as their utility player. Suggesting they should "upgrade" him goes down a path that isn't nearly as supported by evidence or the reality of scarcity.
  4. TheLeviathan
    jkcarew came up with .750. I simply said there are not that many guys better than Ehire and his .700ish OPS. And when you take the cheats off of this list, it comes down to about a handful of better utility players in the entire league. That's not because Ehire is some great player, as I said at the beginning, teams field utility infielders like Ehire not because they choose to, but because they have to. The scarcity context of guys who can do what he does and hit like he does, forces them to. It's not like all the teams in baseball are too dumb or cheap to employ the legion of players better than Ehire for this role. It's that the legion of players you guys are insinuating exist....don't actually exist. It'd be great if they did though!
  5. TheLeviathan
    Well, when you advocate "go get two of them" - it sure sounds like you think it's easy. Or it insinuates you don't realize how rare it is for middle infielders to get to that mark. What you suggest, of course, sounds good. I don't deny that. What I deny is how feasible it is. It's like my "Just go get a gold glove catcher with a 1.000 OPS!" - of course that would be great. But when the rubber meets the road....can that even happen? Only 35 non-1B last year managed that kind of OPS. Among shortstops with 300 at-bats - Ehire was good enough with the bat to be a STARTING shortstop. It's not that your plan doesn't work in theory, it's that it doesn't work when you view the position through the lens of scarcity. Compare Ehire to other utility infielders and how does he stack up? The answer, based on facts, is that he stacks up pretty well. Better than average in fact.
  6. TheLeviathan
    One isolated data point from two years ago isn't particularly compelling. Among SS last year with at least 300 PA, Adrianza was in the top 30. If it helps, read that again. Meaning there were teams with starters who hit worse than him, much less his defensive contributions. You don't seem to be aware that there simply are not enough .750 OPS middle infielders to expect that you'll have one on your bench. It'd be great to have some dream number of infielders on your roster, but the realities of their scarcity make that totally unattainable. (At least via signing/trading players. You can have someone in your farm that steps up for that role, but expecting to acquire a utility player like that defies reality)
  7. TheLeviathan
    Yes. It does. Do you know how many qualified infielders that play SS or 2B or 3B had an OPS of .750 last year? (Not all three, just any of the three) 35. If you take out 3B there were only 22. (And I'd say Ehire's ability to play SS/2B is a key part of his value) So, yes, suggesting the Twins sign two such players (at least one of which is for a backup role) is completely out of touch with reality.
  8. TheLeviathan
    I mean, if you're playing MLB The Show...sure. But this paragraph, and several other posts, lack basis in reality. Last year the Yankees gave 400 PAs to players significantly worse than Adrianza. They, and the Twins, were among about 28 of the 30 franchises in baseball with a similar situation. One of the other two (Houston) is about to join that club as well. Are the Yankees and all these other teams just too cheap?? Are they all unaware of this mountain of available players you refer to who will willingly play for little money, less playing time, and hit like all-stars? Frankly, to make the claim you just did requires ignorance of the talent landscape. You might as well suggest the team "Sign a catcher with an OPS over 1.000! Should be a piece of cake!" I'm all for signing a guy like Gonzalez, but that won't change the need for someone like Adrianza. And it won't change the fact that most teams are happy (because they have to be) with a good fielder who can OPS .700 and play multiplie positions on their bench.
  9. TheLeviathan
    I would venture to bet Adrianza is among the upper half of bench infielders in the league given what he brings with the bat and the glove. I don't think this is a position we have to upgrade. So that makes him a perfectly fine player until he's overpriced for that role.
  10. TheLeviathan
    I'd rather have Gonzalez, Iglesias (because of his position), or even Dozier.
  11. TheLeviathan
    That's a lot of money to spend on a hypothetical. Even in a year, last year, in which he made that pull power more of a thing, he still only managed a .698 OPS away from Coors. His career split has a .150 differential. That's enormous and is 4,000 PA sample size. Most of his offensive value is driven by hitting singles and doubles in front outfielders. A trait that hitting in Coors aids tremendously. (And is absurdly evident in the stats) Take him out of there and you will regret the contract before the ink dries. If someone else wants to spend 30M hoping they can turn a slim hope into reality - by all means. There are better options.
  12. TheLeviathan
    This is not clear at all. One of the reason batting averages are higher in Coors is how deep they have to play outfielders. You will get a .700 OPS player with Lemahieu. That would rank 27th among 2B with at least 300 at-bats last year. No thanks.
  13. TheLeviathan
    Do you know why hitters tend to have a much higher BA in Coors? His sample size away from Coors is robust. You ain't getting .725.
  14. TheLeviathan
    Ugh, three 1B? What is this...beer league softball?
  15. TheLeviathan
    In fairness, the whole league has been really, really slow. Doesn't excuse inaction by the Twins, but it's hardly isolated at this point.
  16. TheLeviathan
    I agree, DH/1B doesn't have to be a lefty. I'd just like a player much more accomplished than Cron. Certainly I'd have preferred a much higher delta between Cron and Austin to warrant 5M and a spot on the roster.
  17. TheLeviathan
    Speaking of creative....anyone want to buy low on Kyle Seager?
  18. TheLeviathan
    I don't mind looking at Bour....but then we basically have to waive Austin. Otherwise this list does nothing for me. (Assuming Harper is just a nice dream)
  19. TheLeviathan
    Having two 1B-only on the roster is a mistake. One we've endured often enough. We have money to spend. DH/OF is not the spot to be penny pinching.
  20. TheLeviathan
    This might be a valid argument if Cron was something more than he is. He's a "meh" hitter for his position and comes with no defensive attributes to help this roster. Having Austin and Cron as the plan for 1B/DH is a recipe for disaster.
  21. TheLeviathan
    Having a full time DH and 1B that play the same position will make this roster much less durable against injury/ineffectiveness/ or other issues. Having a guy you feel comfortable playing at DH and non-1B positions insures you against any number of disasters that could harm the team. Especially in an era where most benches are 3 players deep.
  22. TheLeviathan
    I have no earthly idea why you think it would be "wasted" to use one of a precious few roster spots on a guy that might be able to play more than 1B.
  23. TheLeviathan
    Is there a rule the DH has to be a subpar 1B? Otherwise this roster would seem to be far better off with a guy who can play OF or 1B/3B.
  24. TheLeviathan
    Sure and that's why I'm fine having one of him on the roster. I don't get spending 5M for his maybe better clone.
  25. TheLeviathan
    If Austin and Cron are on the roster I predict a disappointing season for the Twins. Carrying two guys that can barely play 1B is unwise.
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