LewFordLives

With the latest improvements in technology, there is no reason humans should be calling balls and strikes. There would still be plenty for the umpire behind the plate to do....keep the game moving along, call hit batters and foul tips, overrule the computer if it's obviously wrong or breaks down..etc..  With the computer calling balls and strikes there would be less complaining and pitchers wouldn't have to waste pitches searching for that day's strike zone.

The challenge is figuring out what "caught the plate" means. We've all heard and said that a million times. But what does it mean that a pitch "caught the plate?" Caught the front corner? Caught the back corner before it angles to the point? Is the zone 3D or 2D? Is it just where it hits the front corner or can a breaking ball still "catch the corner" at the right angle if it's off the plate at the front of the plate?
A big complaint was breaking balls that hit the dirt being called strikes because they hit the front of the plate in the zone, but were sharp enough they continued down into the dirt before reaching the catcher. In my opinion they should be called a strike. It's where it crosses the plate, not where the catcher catches it. I hate "pitch framing." There should be no such thing as pitch framing. The catcher shouldn't "steal strikes" on the corners. Home plate is 17 inches wide. The ump doesn't get to decide it's 18, 19, 16, 15, 12, 25, whatever from game to game or pitch to pitch. It is 17 inches. 
Figure out if the zone is 2D or 3D and the technology is pretty good already. Fine tune it a bit and let's go.

With the latest improvements in technology, there is no reason humans should be calling balls and strikes. There would still be plenty for the umpire behind the plate to do....keep the game moving along, call hit batters and foul tips, overrule the computer if it's obviously wrong or breaks down..etc..  With the computer calling balls and strikes there would be less complaining and pitchers wouldn't have to waste pitches searching for that day's strike zone.

With the latest improvements in technology, there is no reason humans should be calling balls and strikes. There would still be plenty for the umpire behind the plate to do....keep the game moving along, call hit batters and foul tips, overrule the computer if it's obviously wrong or breaks down..etc..  With the computer calling balls and strikes there would be less complaining and pitchers wouldn't have to waste pitches searching for that day's strike zone.

With the latest improvements in technology, there is no reason humans should be calling balls and strikes. There would still be plenty for the umpire behind the plate to do....keep the game moving along, call hit batters and foul tips, overrule the computer if it's obviously wrong or breaks down..etc..  With the computer calling balls and strikes there would be less complaining and pitchers wouldn't have to waste pitches searching for that day's strike zone.

With the latest improvements in technology, there is no reason humans should be calling balls and strikes. There would still be plenty for the umpire behind the plate to do....keep the game moving along, call hit batters and foul tips, overrule the computer if it's obviously wrong or breaks down..etc..  With the computer calling balls and strikes there would be less complaining and pitchers wouldn't have to waste pitches searching for that day's strike zone.

They're getting closer ... not close enough yet ... but ... hopefully before too long ... like a prospect, will they make the jump to the majors this year?  
 
https://apnews.com/article/mlb-sports-los-angeles-dodgers-baseball-625898797547e5d4de140755ba9cd0ee?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=AP_Sports&fbclid=IwAR3QLj-vX6Y8XE0KcfSFQJW4jidr9eL_v9VGvgumJQN2QnEmMQ37vQp2sgo

We lost the trade, so we move on.  Yes I want Alcala and Celestino on the team, but what Pressly did for the champion Astros is not something we can match unless we also get into the WS and win playoff games.  Otherwise they are good players on an okay team and do not raise the bar.  Pressly has been everything that the Astros wanted and they have been winning - good job Astros.  Let's see what you got Twins. 

I remember beginning of July that year talking with co-workers about who was better, Santana or Liriano, By the end of the month, it was Liriano hands down. A bad game for Liriano was giving up 4 hits. We could have had the 1st and 2nd place Cy Young pitchers, and the Cy Young would have been Liriano.

The Twins have signed RHP DERECK RODRIGUEZ to a minor league contract. He gets to return to the organization that he spent 7 years in, a few as a hitter. 

While I'm really down on the Twins and their offseason, I also try not to listen to literally anything Jim Bowden says or writes. It has served me quite well in life.

I was thinking....there are two players that really crystalize my belief that firing Zimmer was the right move.  (But being wary of declaring the Spielman firing the right move)
1. Stefon Diggs - Spielman took this dude with a 5th round pick.  That's a career maker as a GM.  How did that divorce happen?  Zimmer, so damn committed to running, was purposely downplaying the usage of his best weapons to fit his mantra.  Not change his mantra to match his players.  He drove a possible future HOF receiver out of town on stubbornness.  
2. Justin Jefferson.  We started 2020 1-5 in no small part because we adamantly refused to play Jefferson from Day 1.  Once again, Zimmer refused to talk about young player readiness or why he wasn't on the field.  He just sat him.  When he finally hit the field....the team started turning it around.  He is so unwilling to trust young players that a rookie of the year who broke passing records couldn't even see the field.
Zimmer in a nutshell.  I like the guy, wish him the best, but those two situations highlight why I'm happy today.

I haven’t been this excited about the Vikes since the Herschel Walker trade.

It was time for both to go. The organization needs a fresh perspective from the outside. Someone who will do an audit of everything and everyone in the building. 
There’s no guarantee the next hires will take the team to the next level, but we know exactly who Spielman and Zimmer are. They were not going to lead us to a super bowl berth. 

$500 million has to be for more than just the branding rights, don't you think Ted? . I wonder specifically what is being acquired for $500 million dollars. The article states Topps is selling its digital and physical assests, so maybe machinery and possibly even plants and warehouses are being sold. By the way, does anyone want to buy a 1954 Henry Aaron rookie card for 1/5000 of the price being paid to Topps by Fanatics?   Ted, thanks for this timely article. The Topps brand is very sentimental to us old  baseball card collectors. 

I have to say, one of the things I had liked about baseball was that the journalists were often able to be free. It isn't like the NFL where you don't get access if you're critical. Rosenthal, Heyman, Verducci, etc are fantastic, knowledgeable, league-wide journalists who have done excellent reporting over the years. I really hope that doesn't go away.

I always respected mlbn for being allowed to criticize mlb but I guess those days are over. Tow the company line, fellas.

I agree for sure. I think the biggest question I have with not taking that approach, is the Giants aren't even paying market value for the pitchers they signed. If Wood is worth 2.0 fWAR in 2022, that's worth around $16 million, he's making 10-12. It's a bargain. Even if the Twins 'overpaid' it would still likely produce market value for them.

Fully agree with mikelink45. Waiting for leftovers is NOT a winning strategy. (aka Shoemaker and Happ).
I just fully believe they never planned to add FA pitchers. Maybe a resign of Pineda and that'll be it. If no Pineda then they throw Bundy in with Ober, Ryan, Jax, Dobnak...... they are content to start the season with them and then dip into the minors pool of young arms to fill holes. Remember they said they want to be "competitive". That's not the same thing as winning a playoff game or World Series.

First, no player should be non-tradable, for the right price.  Part of the article talks about his value will not be there to trade, and if true then of course you do not trade him.  You should never trade someone when value is down, when it could go up, just because you may have depth.  Prospects change in value all the time, if you are not getting what you feel is fair value you never just dump a guy. 
If you do get what you feel is a good value then go with the trade, but it should make sense.  I agree you do not trade him for a 1 year controlled pitcher that is not as good as Berrios.  I do not see any way the Twins trade him in off-season, unless a deal for a young good team controlled MLB pitcher is involved. I find that unlikely. 
Second, part of the article address that he has shown he cannot be a SS at the pro level after 1 year of pro ball.  Maybe the writer knows more than me, or maybe they are just looking at the fact he split time between SS and CF and at SS his fielding percent was not good. 
However, splitting time does not tell the whole story, although organizations want to develop players, the managers are also want to win and show they can win.  For the Twins at AA they had much older Palacios, who is known for his fielding, and was holding his own with the bat this year.  That means the manager had to decided help develop Martin at SS who was having struggles, over Palacios or put Martin in CF.  I do not know the situation in Toronto AA team if it was similar or not.
Regardless, the organization and work with him in ST and during the season to see if he can be a SS.  I do not know if it was a throwing issue, or letting balls through legs that led to errors.  Not all errors are created equal.  If a SS makes a stop in the hole because of good range and makes a throw that gets past the 1b allowing the runner to advance, making the play an hit with an error, that is very different than a routine grounder let through the legs. 
I am not saying he will stay at SS, but to use a single pro season to say no way will he stick there to me is jumping the gun.  All that being said, I think he still should be kept around to either regain value, not that I think he lost much, and to be utility guy that will fill in half the year for when Buck gets injured each year. Martin's OBP is elite which always plays.  Sure, he lacks the power some people want, but that may increase as he hits his prime, but his ability to take walks rarely is taught this far into a career and rarely goes away. 

It is hard to say who to trade and who not to.  The question is what do we need and what do we have to do to get it.  Since we did not go for the FA market we get to the trade market and something has to give.  I consider the Berrios trade to be a failure for the FO.  If we turn around and trade Martin and ??? for a pitcher of Berrios value it really emphasizes that fact. 

No....the Pressley trade has not worked out well for both sides.

I get it.   The Twins didn’t TAKE Johan Santana, he was taken by the Marlins and traded for the Twins Rule 5 pick and some cash.   But C’Mon.  He was really a Twins Rule 5 guy.   I guess it’s how one defines “Take”.  

I remember another shortstop turned pitcher by the name of Joe Nathan.
 

solid logic, but trading away assets to get other assets that may help in the short and long term works as well. Look at the Odo and Maeda trades, neither were made with one year in mind. That is why IMO they aren't trading significant assets for one or two year players. They may trade an asset like Gil for them, but in no way are they giving up any top prospects.
The big difference with MN and Oak, is Oak either figures out how to develop pitching or go out and get pitching that mostly works out and they can get all they can while under control and trade them before they walk away for more money. MN has shown no ability to develop pitchers, yet?