TheLeviathan
-
Posts
21,582 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
49
Content Type
Profiles
Minnesota Twins News, Rumors & Analysis
Minnesota Twins Videos
2026 Minnesota Twins Top Prospect Rankings
2022 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks & Signing Bonuses
Minnesota Twins Trade & Free Agent Rumors
Minnesota Twins Fan Guides & Resources
2023 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks & Signing Bonuses
The Minnesota Twins Players Project
2024 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks & Signing Bonuses
2025 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks & Signing Bonuses
2026 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks & Signing Bonuses
Forums
Blogs
Events
Store
Downloads
Gallery
Everything posted by TheLeviathan
-
Beating Vegas: The Boston Red Sox
TheLeviathan replied to John Bonnes's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
Under, I don't like that lineup. -
Here is the quote: Apprenticing to be a major league first baseman is, statistically speaking, a poor choice of apprenticeships at the expense of schooling.
-
Except Laroche has publicly said they prioritize homework below spending time together. So they go fishing and hunting before any educational work that has to be done. He has said that education "isn't that big of a deal" This is not about the Laroche family business falling apart without help from the kid. This isn't even about teaching something like a farm work ethic. For them this is about spending time together and it is done at the expense of education and with the belief that he learns MORE from a major league clubhouse than a classroom. Prize hard work and learning to work hard all you want. That isn't why Laroche is doing this, so he can't even hide behind that slightly less-dubious justification.
-
I didn't ignore it ben, it's not even close to the same thing. A day or two in March or October isn't the same as EVERY DAY. And publicly declaring they are "not big on school". If my father, who also enjoyed having me help during the summer, and after football practice, and during the spring - had ever told me "school doesn't matter as much as shoveling out the pig pens" - I'd have seriously questioned whether what he was doing was about me or about him. My father understood that an education was the most important, but still placed a value on that time together and the work ethic I learned. He just didn't have it ass backwards like Laroche does - which is where your comparison falls apart.
-
So you spent a lot of time with your dad during the summers - congratulations. (Seriously, I did the same) Would it have ever have even crossed your parents minds to pull you out from March-October? No? Then the two aren't even remotely comparable. No one does that because this isn't the 1840s and that sort of practice is both A) Not of much good for producing future farmers and B ) Ignores your child's ability to get an education necessary to even be a farmer in today's world. So, I guess Adam Laroche is equivalent to really dumb farmers? Or is some sort of 1840s novelty? I guess I don't see how this is a redeemable trait. If Adam Laroche was doing what you are suggesting (summers with him and a day here or there outside of that) I would understand that. He'd still be putting a premium on a real education and sharing that experience. But he's not.
-
Maybe, but his own teammate hardly gave his skill set a glowing endorsement. And you can bet pitchers are paying attention to this sort of stuff. It's the half of this that the "get everyone in the lineup/make the mostof our roster" argument forgets: defense counts too and we may be reverting to some tendencies from a few years ago that really hurt this team. Last year we played a lot less guys out of position and we *shockingly!* performed much better as a team. This just stinks of not learning our lesson.
-
You don't see the gigantic difference between those two things? Back when 14 year olds were apprenticing it was because that was pretty much certain to be their career. Is Drake certain to be a big leaguer? If not, what value is this? And, given the odds of becoming a big leaguer, the answer to both questions is likely - no and "very little" I have no problem with a kid learning to work and experiencing some of what their parents do for a living, but you're advocating a system of apprenticeship we left behind at least 100 years ago. Hell, you can't even be a farmer today with a 13 year old education and a good apprenticeship, we've advanced beyond those days. Let the kid come during his summer off and experience the ball park and experience things. But pulling him out of school basically year round to futz around with his father is nothing like what you're describing and, even if it was, apprenticing with a professional baseball player is a ridiculous idea.
-
Bah! What could go wrong in that case?
-
Unless Ventura thought it would be this bad or worse if he had tried to do it himself. He also might have felt unable to do that himself depending upon what the FO agreed to with Laroche upon signing him. He would have been interjecting himself into a contract situation at that point and opened a whole different can of worms. The bottom line is that it doesn't seem like there was any negotiating with Laroche on this. So I'm not sure what anyone could have done to alleviate the concerns some seemed to have without also sending Laroche off.
-
It's been strongly suggested that it was Ventura also, who didn't want to make the policy himself for fear of train-wrecking the clubhouse against him.
-
In part, that's the Twins fault too. They were trying to make Ortiz something he wasn't and we never got to see the full potential.
-
But the Twins were the most wrong in their assessment, they had him and chose to release him. His grudge might be a combination of regretting that he had to leave here and bitterness with how he was treated. Plenty of us feel that way about past employers, few of us go on to have enough success in the same field to publicly rub their nose in it. He's sort of earned the right to do that. I like to think the Twins have slowly learned their lesson on this. For awhile I think they got too rigid in what the "right way" was and it caused a number of issues from over-reliance on certain types of pitchers, certain types of hitters, certain approaches to the game, personality types, etc. I think we've come out of that, but Ortiz was very much a major symptom of a problem.
-
Laroche's entire stance on child rearing makes it basically impossible to defend him. He's lived an insulated life thanks to his unique talents and is setting up his son for a difficult life if he doesn't happen to share them. (Like Laroche shared his father's) Was the tact by Williams lacking? Maybe. But reports are that other clubhouse officials (possibly the manager) and players complained about it. I think it's reasonable to ask he not be there constantly, it doesn't seem Laroche agreed, and the problems spiraled from there. Sorry, do your kid a favor, put him in school like a normal human.
-
And that is to toss him at a new position he's never played before in his second year in the big leagues because you REALLY want to keep your average 3B around and you really like a Korean slugger? That's....dubious. We'll see how it plays out, I hope for all our sakes we don't really regret this because there is a better than decent chance we do.
-
We don't have to just use Hanley Ramirez. Our own very capable SS looked lost in the outfield. Yeah, I want to see things play out, I'm giving the Twins the benefit of the doubt as to why they are doing it, but Vegas won't get any money from me that this is going to turn out well.
-
His ability to play out there and the consequences are guesses, but we can analyze the rationale. It is indefensible to move arguably your greatest asset to another position to optimize your roster temporarily. If he starts shuffling to first or third again by July this entire idea is indefensible. You want to make him an outfielder, ok, then make him one because you believe it best for him. That's how you treat your most important asset. But your greatest asset shouldn't be the square peg you start trying to jam into the round hole to make the puzzle fit. Pick a different, less important, piece for that.
-
If their idea of optimizing their roster is to move their large,incredibly talented slugger (and enormously valuable asset) to a position he's never played as a temporarily measure to balance things...... I'm not sure how the hell anyone can get behind that thinking. That's my nightmare of why this is happening. I want to believe the Twins think he can actually play RF for a number of years. At least then I can understand it and if they're wrong - those things happen. But any justification other than that is probably stupid. Especially roster optimization.
-
I will say this, if I have any criticism of this show, it's that they are almost word for word stealing Dark Knight themes. A few lines made me cringe even, but they're pulling it off well.
-
Trevor May Headed To The Bullpen
TheLeviathan replied to Seth Stohs's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
I think that's pretty unlikely. If May pitches well the argument becomes "he's too good to move back!" If he struggles it becomes "well if he can't hack the pen....." Guys just don't flip back and forth much, this likely is the end of the line for one of our higher upside SPs. -
I don't necessarily buy the injury angle either, but there is a lot about this I don't like. I'll tell you when, for me, this goes from head scratching to infuriating - the moment this gets revealed as temporary or a patch and not a genuinely permanent move. Then I'm going to be pissed.
-
Look, you're comparing apples to oranges, it just doesn't work. The prep, the recovery time, the type of movement, etc. are all just radically different. I don't necessarily buy the "he's too big" argument, but I'd consider it before I consider the one the Twins and many around here like to throw around: "If you can play the infield, you can play the outfield!" That, is demonstrably false.
-
Slide The Dark Knight in for Watchmen for me, but I agree about Winter Soldier and DD.
-
I'm not convinced his size makes this impossible, but there is a big difference between 16 times a year and 162.
-
But a professional baseball locker room is SUCH a better teacher of what the real world is about!
-
Hanley was an infielder moved to the outfield last year? That just HAD to have gone beautifully. It's such a smart move that really helps give you a great outfielder every time. - Twins
