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specialiststeve

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Everything posted by specialiststeve

  1. specialiststeve
    Looking at the video don't see the big leg kick that was mentioned. Which is a good thing.. Don't see any hitch.. a bit of a loop in his swing but not bad and should be able to correct pretty easily with instruction. Will have to see if can find any video of his defense which from all accounts sounds good and would be of great interest. A long way out but hopefully he will continue to improve as he matures. Still 4-5 years out which seems forever but nice to have this kind of talent n the system.
  2. specialiststeve
    Understand and agree....
  3. specialiststeve
    As I have tried to state this is not about offense but defense. I understand the masses think that this is "fantasy" baseball and everything is about the offense. Reality is that defense is just as important (for winning teams ) and putting "passable" defensive guys at the most important defensive position is not a good idea long-term. I think we all agree that Polanco's preferred position would be second but that does not appear to be happening. What the Front office and the manager as well as fans need to weight is the do we want a "passable" offensive player which I do think Adrianza would be with regular at bats and "excellent" defense..... or do we want Polanco with "passable" (I would say that is questionable) defense and a "good" (not great) bat. As a former college player and HS coach I can tell you at that position 100% of the time I would go with the high end defense and less of an offensive player as long as passible is not Mendoza like..... 250 is okay if his defense is top notch.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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!
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. specialiststeve
    Reality is that he is going nowhere. He is still a huge fan favorite and would be a marketing nightmare if he were DFA'd. This is why you have team options. He is still an okay player but not a 23 million dollar player. Best we can do in this thing is as some have stated to platoon him and get the young guys the bulk of the AB's. In a perfect world I would want Sano to turn into a good 3rd basemen but it more likely he will go to 1st ala Miguel Cabrera when Joe calls it a career.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. 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.
  15. 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.
  16. specialiststeve
    Am glad that May will try starting again..... I am not sure it will work but think that is where he should be. I also think Hughes should be in bullpen fulltime. Gibson should be traded or go to the bullpen also ... career 4.60 ERA... just not getting it done. Rotation Santana Santiago Barrios Mejia Haley Will be plenty of up's and down's with the young guys but the stuff is there. Gotta give them innings.
  17. specialiststeve
    I like the idea! I have always liked Napoli and he has a way of bringing teams to the playoffs. I am all for that as I am sure many of us here are. I was pretty sure there was going to be a timeshare with Vargas, Napoli and Mauer but Park is no sure thing to be ready for the year. Start Park in the minors. He can get at bats and be ready if any injuries happen. If we are playing well and it is working keep him the rest of the year. If not surely a playoff team in the AL will give us a little something for him. Seems like a pretty sound move ..... if a one year deal.
  18. specialiststeve
    You do have some points but ..... Only guy I know of at peak value that we didn't trade is Dozier.. Which Is still possible to other team's but not likely. Folks have to understand that as they say it takes 2 to tango. If there is not a trade partner that is willing to give you what you want and or need there are no real options but to stand pat.... Trading for something you don't need or not getting appropriate value is a going the wrong direction. We actually had a pretty good draft last year and the reason we went to the middle of the pack is our studs are in the show now... The young guys in the lower clubs have some pretty good talent but takes time. Our minors are fine. Shortstop is an issue... am praying for vast improvement or a trade. Gordon is getting close so a vet that can pick it would be nice. Spring training will show a lot. I think if Polanco is clearly not ready they will do something. We actually did improve our pitching. Justin Haley the rule 5 guy is the real deal. He will help this team. Also signed some vet's ... Tepesch Vogelsong .... not sexy but depth counts.... every step forward counts. As far as not building for the future I would disagree. Haley is a nice young player. Getting the young guys at bats and innings of experience IS building for the future.
  19. 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.
  20. specialiststeve
    This isn't "Fantasy Baseball" everyone. We have acquired a quality defensive Catcher that was the 13th overall rated FA at a need spot. Check.... We DIDN'T trade our best player for less than value. We took care of our arbitration players without issue. We have a great young nucleus that needs to grow up. It takes time. We are not going to the WS this year so growing up and getting the young studs the AB's and them getting settled in is going to be what we are. That may disappoint some but we have a great team around the corner be patient.... I know that is not the thing these days but.....
  21. 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?
  22. 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.
  23. 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 ....
  24. 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.
  25. 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.
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