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specialiststeve

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Everything posted by specialiststeve

  1. specialiststeve
    Probably true. But moving Polanco around getting AB's versus setting him at short and not having a quality Defensive player at arguably the most important defensive spot on the field day in day out also to me seems silly. Watched Polanco play in person a half dozen times and he just did not appear to have "it" as far as being the everyday SS. Bat is fine but he is no Cal Ripkin so saying his bat is why we need to keep him there is really not a good argument. Good bat but not an "impact" bat.
  2. specialiststeve
    Well we will agree to disagree..... Actually I didn't say that each would DH 2 times a week - I said possible one time of the 2 days off. Leaving plenty of time for Polanco to play. Again I would love to have Sano be the guy at 3rd as I think he can be a superstar. I also understand that our new FO's priority is to improve our pitching and defense. They go together. If he can't play defense the team will find a spot for his bat that is certain. Nothing more deflating as a former player as not trusting that a guy is going to make a play and he doesn't .... over and over again. I am sure we have some former pitchers in here that can tell you this first hand. Don't have the stats but I am sure that one of our metric dudes can connect good defense to good pitching as they go together. More importantly good pitching and good defensive teams have a much better chance of winning.
  3. specialiststeve
    Could be the actual situation but according to the MLB office it is for a player to be named. Either way Light gone and cash or a minor prospect..... not a major situation.
  4. specialiststeve
    As the super sub position he won't play DH at all unless something unforeseen happens. You could see that Dozier needed a blow more often last hear and one or 2 days off a week where Dozier could play DH or have a full day off. = 2 days of playing time ...... multilply that at SS and 3rd and you are looking at Polanco playing about 5 days a week. As far as Sano playing every day I would be jumping for joy if he shows he is competent there. That has yet to happen. If he "shows" that he is incompetent there like he has in the past we just keep running him out there? That is a good way to lose a team ( or a GM ) ... If he is the same guy as last year he won't be out there everyday.... He may be batting everyday at the DH but I don't think the new Front office is going to sit on their hands and watch him make a fool out of himself. Let's all hope he has made major strides in the offseason!
  5. specialiststeve
    Actually per MLB "Minnesota Twins traded RHP Pat Light to Pittsburgh Pirates for Player To Be Named Later." Which would suggest either they are still trying to agree on a prospect or agree to a cash transaction. I have not seen anything suggesting there has been a resolution either way.
  6. specialiststeve
    The more and more I think about this the more and more I expect Adrianza to be our SS this year. Polanco will be our super-sub and play 2nd, 3rd and SS. If Sano can't handle 3rd I would expect Polanco to end up there with Sano being the DH or start taking some grounders at 1st where I think he projects when Joe hangs them up...... or sooner.
  7. specialiststeve
    Actually I am not talking about the whole metric statistic system ... just the defensive ones. Here is the deal with the "stat" you are talking about... it is taken by the eye. I do understand the offensive metrics are used more because they are much more reliable as are more objective. I understand that teams have been using the metrics but to my understanding it is more on the offensive side than the defensive. But I am sure there is some value but my point is it appears limited in it's validity. It's okay we can agree to disagree on this as I am sure the old guard likely leans my way and the new guard to your side.
  8. specialiststeve
    Respectfully you miss my point. The scout(s) which I have met and discussed baseball with do go and see a variety of different players and the good ones will watch players play for extended games and chances to look at their fundamentals etc.... I have coached and been around baseball for 45 years and am likely just an old fart but I can go to a game and Know a player that has good range as well as mechanics. Scouts notes can vary but DO put in variables that explain things in detail. Metrics unless have the same person doing the input and under the same conditions simply are also subjective. They may have some value in a "general sense" but saying a player is a good or not a good defensive player by "just" using these statistics would be a bad idea. Mind you some scouts are better than others and is also a subjective venture at best. My point is that you can't trust the statistics as the variables are WAY to inconsistent. Not a math major but do know in order to have statistics be accurate and valuable the variables need to be consistent and thus the validity is questionable.
  9. specialiststeve
    Defensive metric stats are not reliable. Unless they have the same person going over the positioning, exit velocity of the ball hit, air temp, ground crew average pay..... it is just a poorly conceived stat. There are SO many variables that it just can't be measurable on the defensive side of things. I wonder what Cal Ripkin's metrics would have been..Likely pretty low... The guy knew where to be, knew the hitters, had a great glove, etc... There are some things in this game that need an old fashioned scout.
  10. specialiststeve
    Surprised we haven't been able to find a NL team to take him. He is clearly a ulility player they use there all the time. Can play several spots for the double switches that happen all the time. Hopefully we can find a match before the DFA..... I am about 95 % sure he would get picked up.
  11. specialiststeve
    I see the FO trying to shore up the SS defensively. In order for the pitching to be better the defense needs to be better. I watched him play a few games with the giants and he had some great plays.... Can he do it every day that is another story but his minor league hitting numbers were good. He plays a great short. Low risk - possible high reward. We have a bunch of guys like Light.... throws hard but doesn't have control.. not a huge loss. Other part is I think he and Park are likely to pass through wavers allowing them to go to the minors. Win/Win if that happens.
  12. specialiststeve
    Interesting article. Had the pleasure of interacting with Brandon Warne on Pro Sports Daily for years before he hit the big time... good for him. He was always pretty thoughtful in his assessment. You both seem to be on the same page. I agree but also do think that stating the rebuilding is semantics at best. The reality is that this team "is" rebuilding. We are rebuilding or building how ever you want to categorize it with young players that need time to "figure" it out. I believe and hope that Sano, Polanco, Buxton, Vargas, Barrios and the plethora of young power relief arms will get there in '17 but all are young and still are going to have some growing pains. That is reality. We have the "framework" there but still have work to do to have the finished product ready to contend for championships. Maybe we are on the same page and this time next year after competing for a wildcard spot this year will make some larger moves but I would tend to believe that it will be closer to '19 or '20 when the kids are grown up. That may not be acceptable but finding out who the core players are going to be before spending for accessories would make more sense. Maybe we just have different timelines.
  13. specialiststeve
    ? So we should set the bar low so that we can hit our bar? That is a GREAT recipe for failure. Actually what the statement meant was don't bring an offer that is not worthy of an all-star second baseman unless the value is high in what you are offering... I am proud of our FO for not "settling" for less than needed value. This is a GOOD thing! We have to understand that the shiny new toy is not always better just shiny and new. Give me the Tonka Truck (Dozier) any day over - overhyped hot prospect.... we are here to win correct?
  14. specialiststeve
    Bingo! Deleon is a nice prospect but there are a bunch of question marks on him. If he were part of a package of guys fine I am good but If as the report goes LA was not going to add other good pieces we would be stupid to move on. There will be other opportunities and if the right deal comes fine... if not ... Fine. He is a VERY good player and not getting what the new FO believes is a very good return we don't move him.
  15. specialiststeve
    Or the eternal optimist would hope for a Marcus Semien transformation and we would be set. I would have to believe they have him (Polanco) working on his shortstop position. I would still say that he is not the longtern solution there but if can go from not very good to pretty good defensively and still rake it would be okay. Not sure how likely but ....
  16. specialiststeve
    A lot of different views on this but I do believe that the new FO what they felt was the right thing. As I have stated before if it was a 1 for 1 we had to pass unless it was Urias and they weren't going to do that. We needed to have at minimum 3 Very good pieces in hopes that 1 figures it out and is good..... otherwise it is a lose. Putting all your eggs in a questionable basket would have been a bad policy and not doing it if that was the offer was the only responsible thing to do. Given they are supposed to be known for their pitching insight I will trust them at this point.
  17. specialiststeve
    We do have to understand that Buxton, Kepler, Murphy, Grossman, Santiago, Polanco, Kintzler, and half the arms we brought up last year were "new". What we all need to understand is that there is a learning curve and most most of the time it takes a year to two years to "catch up to speed". Jackie Bradley of the bosox is perfect example as well as many others. Patience is very hard for our society now in the immediate satisfaction world. We have some GREAT young players that just need to be given time to get it and we will be fine.
  18. specialiststeve
    Thanks - I have had major issue with this for some time. We were not good but this is a butch of junk.
  19. specialiststeve
    Then respectfully you would be simply wrong. Effing up would not be getting full value out of your best player. That is a good way to be a very bad team.
  20. specialiststeve
    When ever you are trying to get the best deal you always have to be willing to walk away and I do believe we are creating this for teams to understand that we will not take a discount for him.... even if it is a "false" deadline to just create a perception that is the point. By the way I think that Deleon, Alvarez, Stewart and Bellinger would get it done... yesterday! If we add Kiriloff and say Javier to the deal....
  21. specialiststeve
    Not sure why time is running out...... If they get what they want and need okay if not we move on to spring training with the understanding of what we want but are not going to keep discussing. If they call and say okay we will do it under your terms next month I am guessing we say okay...
  22. specialiststeve
    I like your thinking but may need to be adjusted as Dodgers won't do that one.... JDL, Alverez, Puig, Kazmir for Dozier, Kiriloff, Gibson, Burdi That may be closer....
  23. specialiststeve
    My understanding is that the Twin's really want Bellinger along with Deleon as the main pieces. Want to get creative... send Kirilloff as part of the deal as they get a very good guy that is a few years away..... Deleon, Bellinger, Kasmir, Arruebarrena - Yaisel Sierra for Dozier, Kiriloff, Gibson We get 2 ready made prospects, 2 wildcards, and an old fart that can maybe help us. They get their man at 2nd, Gibson may be salvageable with them and Kiriloff who down the road may be a great get for them. Win/Win. In order to get this done the guys may need to think out of the box....
  24. specialiststeve
    Interesting thing is how different writers are getting "inside" information from our new front office. Not sure what this means but they are definitely spreading the wealth of disinformation.
  25. specialiststeve
    I do believe that most are over rating the Cards pitching. Weaver and Flaherty are number 3/4 starters most likely. We have a ton of those in our system so why would we move our best asset for pieces like that. Bader is okay but not great power or speed. 4th outfielder type guy. Not seeing it here unless Reyes is included. As far as Wong they would need to make space for Dozier is why he would likely need to be included. He is still young and is still decent and has shown in flashes to be pretty good. Defensively he is very solid. I too believe that we are driving up the price and want Bellinger and Deleon and Bellinger is the sticking point most likely.
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