TheLeviathan
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Everything posted by TheLeviathan
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What To Make Of Kennys Vargas
TheLeviathan replied to Tom Froemming's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
Well, I don't like Grossman much, but if we're going to heap praise on Mauer for his OBP it's worth pointing out that Grossman did provide that skill in droves. Even if he also was a butcher in the field. With Vargas, I see things to like. He's a player who looks willing to learn, adjust his approach, and try to get better. I try not to judge players who aren't given adequate, consistent playing time too harshly. And with young players I'm even more cautious. I know you feel good about Max Kepler (and so do I) but if you started watching Max about halfway through August through the end of the year you'd also wonder why anyone would be high on him. He was brutal in all phases. Those things happen to young players. I'm wiling to judge Vargas can't play or isn't a part of this team's future when I've seen a good, long stretch of playing time. And he's only had one of those two years ago. -
Certainly. I'm on board with making him more of a five days out of seven player at this point. And when his contract expires, I wish him well. And between then and now, I too hope they are willing to let his playing time be determined by production and not past pedigree.
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He can be both a below average offensive 1B and still their best option. Those aren't mutually exclusive.
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Right, I guess you can dilute the pool enough to make him look average, but that's not really that helpful. I care about how he compares to other starting, full time 1B because that's what he is. So if I compare full time 1B Joe Mauer to other full time 1B in the AL - by wRC+ he's 9th out of 14. By wOBA he's also 9th out of 14. We don't need to do statistical gymnastics here, let's compare him to his peers.
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I'm more concerned about the calls to Russia about the sanctions, but they may all tie together.
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I'm not sure where you're getting your numbers. Are those averages based on all players or 1B? Because that makes a sizable difference.
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WBC?
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He was 22nd in wRC+ in all of baseball for 1B with 400+ plate appearances. By what measure is he "league average offensively"?
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I think he could strike out 400 times if given 600 ABs.
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They absolutely stand for something. The language and attacks used are universal enough that there is absolutely something to it. These aren't lone wolves or boogie men created by the right. These are real people doing this every day, with common language, commonly held beliefs, and typically using the same tool - social media. And they have been doing it for a rather significant amount of time. You keep trying to portray this as some kind of vast right wing conspiracy and it just isn't. This is a real thing. Anyone who spends any amount of time online will find it. Peruse left-wing causes and it will come up. Read anything about colleges and you'll see academics (liberals!) fighting tooth and nail for authenticity and intellectual freedom on their campuses. So when Republicans do want to paint with a wide brush.....these very vocal, aggressive factions only make it easier. And that does hurt your coalition.
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Maybe you're doing your part, but I'm not sure the party and prominent liberals are doing it enough. It's certainly not evident that there is an internal push back through social media. I see the March for Science and what is happening there and think....even with someone like Trump in office the left is still finding ways to screw up forming a coalition. Or about how to concentrate on single, important issues rather than splintering into 50 "pet issues" as you put it. That, right there, is a huge part of the problem.
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And yet, the left did try to hold online comments on the right during the scope of the election. And rightly so. Turnabout should be fair play. Words matter. Tactics of debate matter. And they matter on both sides. Especially in a discussion of "how do you build/maintain a coalition". This isn't a false equivalency, both have a real effect on the coalition.
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See I worry about that only furthering the control of the right.
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I heard moderate and establishment Republicans say the same about the Tea Party when they were rising. Ignore them. They're a fringe. They don't hold sway. But they do. And eventually they find way to undermine your cause. For the right they undermined it by taking over enough house seats to influence policy. For the left, these crazies are setting a tone of political correctness, anti-speech, stifled discussion and that is having an effect. It is fracturing the party, encouraging the kind of self-cannibalization that destroys the ability for the left to generate momentum and consensus. And, in addition to hurting the party from the inside, the sheer stupidity of what they say drives moderates and independents away. Letting it fester may not be the same exact model as the Tea Party, but the effects might well be the same. It's destroying our ability to compromise and govern. And I think it's a major reason why much of the country agrees with the left (on policy) but wouldn't be caught dead supporting them.
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You didn't even try to read that post nick. Or you way missed the boat when you did. They are attacking any point of view that disagrees as being too privileged. They are literally shouting down a scientist for saying "Um, maybe we should just focus on science at the Science March". Go read the comments in that twitter link I posted. Seriously. Go read it. And if you think this is isolated, ask Steve Martin about Carrie Fisher. Ask the prof and his wife with the Halloween costume thing up thread. The examples are endless. I don't think you understand what i'm saying and you're arguing a strawman (unintentionally) as a result. Go read that twitter feed and the comments for awhile. That's the toxin, ala the Tea Party, that the Dems are allowing to fester.
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Yes, it's a problem that the left isn't standing up to the loud, obnoxious voices. Just as it was when the right let the Tea Party have too much rope. Look where that got them. (And the rest of us) It's a problem right now that the Republicans are too spineless to stand up to Trump too. We've talked at length about that though. This isn't a Republican creation. No Republicans are shouting down a scientist for saying "Um, hey, maybe we should just focus on science?" No Republicans are running around shaming opinions based on privilege or cis gender or whatever. It's not Republicans lining up on social media to blitzkrieg anyone that falls out of line. Your line of argument is an excuse to make all the ills of the left the responsibility of the right. That's nonsense. I doubt you'd argue Democrats were forcing Tea Party people to look like racist, backwards morons, the Tea Party did that on their own. The Republicans just indulged them. The same is happening here. This is a manifestation within the left. And it's toxic. Especially to the kind of no nonsense, blue collar workers that used to backbone the party's voting base. And to anyone that enjoys a spirited discussion of various ideas. Or has their own opinion.
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The Tea Party was just a "faction" too (How many of you remember Republicans going on TV downplaying some of the craziness? I sure as hell do) but when a faction becomes aggressive and vocal enough it can force it's views to be over-represented. Or to make people cower from challenging them. So, yeah, it probably isn't a majority on the left, but if you stand by and do nothing while letting these whack jobs set the tone.....are you really blameless? If you sit back and do nothing while they grow more and more assertive in their bat-**** crazy approach, are you really blameless? I sure as hell don't find the Republicans who let the crazies seep into full control on their side off the hook. Why would I for the other side?
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Not just Democrats in office, that's a lefty thing. The snobbery is kind of real and certainly out of touch with many people. The people on the right have their own issues, certainly, but nothing drives away a blue collar voter like making them feel inferior, out of touch, or whatever. And that's a common left-wing assault. You saw it with the Bernie vs. Clinton supporters, it got snobby and nasty so quickly. Hell, last night I was reading about the Science March and how a few scientists tried to ask for the march to be less about racism, gender politics, LGBTQ issues, etc. and more about the merits of science and lefties were all over them on Twitter. Why? Maybe you disagree with his assertion, that might be valid. But none of those lobbed criticisms of his position have ANYTHING to do with what he was saying. He wasn't condemning those issues, he was suggesting their inclusion might hurt the cause. Why cannibalize him for that? Not only do you miss the point, but you're oppressively snobby and annoying in doing so. Maybe it's just me, but that sort of thing just drives me away. How could I possibly want to be on the same team as people like that? Pinker? Sign me up, he seems thoughtful (left leaning by the way), and wants to achieve a greater appreciation for science. The fools attacking him? No way.
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What To Make Of Kennys Vargas
TheLeviathan replied to Tom Froemming's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
He has to have opportunity to do so. -
What To Make Of Kennys Vargas
TheLeviathan replied to Tom Froemming's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
I would argue virtually anyone should've been starting over Plouffe. Yet another victim of that decision. So, yeah, he should have kept playing. And he damn sure should be playing over Adam Lind or the husk of Justin Morneau. The kid has hit in the minors, he's not even a fluke like Dozier. There is a history there of production. -
I think this is the issue the left needs to look at. And that soul-searching needs to happen introspectively. Some of it is certainly shady Republican behavior, but a great deal of it stems from the left's own behavior. There is widespread support for Democrat platforms and ideas. Why those are not translated into election wins should be the paramount concern. Speaking only for myself, I have trouble fully buying into "Team Left" because there is such a strong current of "we all think this way and if you step out of bounds we will tear you apart without mercy" There is self-cannibalization and vitriol so strong there it's hard to really buy in. I tend to think for myself and I don't appreciate any disagreement I have turning me into some sort of monster. And this is exactly what played out in the Bernie-bros vs. Clinton supporters running up to the election. Rather than find widespread agreement, slight differences were blown enormously out of proportion to create a divide that never really existed. And they didn't need the Republicans help, they did that all by themselves.
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What To Make Of Kennys Vargas
TheLeviathan replied to Tom Froemming's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
He was on a tear in July and then inexplicably stopped playing with any regularity for all of August. -
I never suggested he shouldn't play for this team right now. I'm just tired of cherry picking stats without context or relative to his position. I'm tired of any argument that includes something approximating "he was great until...*insert injury excuse here*". He is what he is - a below average offensive 1B - there would be a lot less teeth gnashing about him if we all accept that.
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What To Make Of Kennys Vargas
TheLeviathan replied to Tom Froemming's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
I'm not sure I care all that much about pedigree. All of your concerns, except for defense, are as much or more so issues with Buxton. I suggest the issue is unfairly holding limited initial results against a player. Especially one given limited consistent playing time. Vargas may well be a non-factor, but like all young hitters I don't measure them by the sum total of their early at bats but by the growth they show. -
Really excellent post. Mauer isn't a bad player, I don't think anyone is arguing that. But my god, I really tire of how hard some people work to slap lipstick on this particular pig.
