HarmonK03

So what does it take for Lee to get in a game. He will be here next year, Bader and Castro won't be. We are going nowhere this year, even if we sneak in as a wildcard. They need to find out if Lee can be a player to be counted on going forward, playing a couple of times a week won't accomplish that. Playing Bader every day exposes him, he is an exciting player and provides some key moments but he is not an everyday player. He needs to be used as the fourth outfielder that is where he can be most effective.

For comparison Berrios had an era over 8 after his 14 starts in roughly the same number of innings. And Matthews is just coming off the IL. I think he will be at least a mid-rotation pitcher, we have seen as many good starts as bad. But there should be some patience.

So after 14 starts, not even a half season worth, he should be a finished product. This is part of the learning process, he actually has had some very good starts. And two of the runs scored were on the home run given up by Stewart.

To clarify, I was stating the career OPS+ numbers.

You want to put your faith in a player with an OPS+ of 85 vs one with 128 in roughly the same number career of AB's, you can. Wallner and Lewis are the players with the talent to be regulars on a winning team. Clemens is riding a hot streak right now, but he was just as awful in June as he has been good in July. He is a role player and the fact that we have to rely on him to hit fourth in the lineup shows how poorly this organization is run.

And batting fifth.

We are going to be a winning team, not just for a game or two if Wallner and Lewis get going. Clemens at his best is a bench player who will have his moments and contribute to a few wins over the course of a season. He was awful in June and if he is in the lineup it should be in the bottom third of the lineup.

But they need him fresh for October when he goes fishing.

Gasper should never see Target Field again unless it is with a visiting team. He brings nothing to help the team.

I am not sure if his getaway day lineup is any different than any other day. None of his lineups ever make sense.

Nothing says 1927 Yankees Murderer's Row like having Clemens and France batting 4th and 5th, then having Vasqy anchoring the lineup at number 9. If this is the best lineup they can put out there, someone needs to be fired.

First, Wallner has proven himself at AAA, he either needs to figure it out up here or move on from him, I personally think he can put it together. He is not a young prospect anymore, play him every day regardless of who is pitching and see if he can be counted on going forward. New ownership will not automatically mean a higher budget. The budget is not the sole issue, it is how the front office, i.e. Falvey chooses to allocate the dollars he is allocated. Falvey needs to be the first to go.

Regarding pitch selection, this has come up before. Shoemaker left town complaining about how they wanted him to pitch and to use his least effective pitch more. Now he didn't do well here so he could just be bitter. Duran has also hinted at this a couple of times. It does feel like they want the analytics to drive pitch selection whether that is the pitcher's strength or not. They do not use analytics as a tool but as the only way to do things it appears. On the radio last night they were talking about how they wanted to throw fastballs to the Rockies because the analytics say that is the way to pitch to them. This could be why we were seeing more fastballs. But they have to be commanded well and not down the middle of the plate. But every pitcher is different and are they taking this into account. It looks like they are doing a one size fits all but do we really know how they are calling pitches.

New ownership can't happen soon enough. This organization needs a top to bottom honest assessment of everything from players, player development, coaching, and organizational philosophy. How can every young player come up here and either have a little success then regress or not have success at all. Yes I know not all prospects become stars or even competent major leaguers. But either their assessment and drafting of players is really bad or they are not being developed correctly. What is the plan for this organization, they will play stopgap veterans and will not move on when they can get similar results from the players they supposedly developed and could find out if that development will pay off. Leaving Anthony M. up here in place of Adams is just another example of this. Put players at one position and let them get comfortable. You could see Correa and Castro talking after the force out at second last night. Correa plays with a different partner at 2B every night, reps do matter in getting comfortable and helping defensive communication. And give players regular AB's regardless of who is pitching. I want to see Lewis, Lee, Wallner, and Larnach in the lineup on a regular basis and fill in the other players around them. Find out if they can be a part of the core and if not make the necessary adjustments going into next season. And let the young starters stay in the rotation the rest of the year, one will need to be sent down for Lopez. But I don't want to see Paddack getting starts over them. I am just very frustrated with this team and the leadership from the front office down to the field staff.

Lewis needs to be in the lineup either with the Twins or in St. Paul. He needs to play thru his struggles and if he is not healthy enough then put him on the IL. Sitting him after only one game after the break is not in his or the team's best interest.

When Ober comes back it has to be Paddack moved out of the rotation. The three young pitchers need to be given starts and let them work thru any growing pains. Their results will not be worse than Paddack and there will be more potential upside for the future of this franchise. Also, no more starts for France, he needs to be gone. This organization will not move on from non productive vets. France is putting up the same numbers as last year that got him released. Bader and Clemens need to be playing only twice a week. It is time to see what we have for next year so they can fill holes with quality instead of quantity. Even if they somehow make the playoffs as a wildcard, they are not a championship team as constructed.

Get Paddack out of there and put him in the bullpen. No more starts, will this team ever admit a mistake.

Is Vasquez really a better option than Larnach or Wallner despite his recent struggles. Can they look at who deserves to play instead of what hand the pitcher throws with. First series will be behind the plate two of the three games because now he is Ryan's personal catcher.

They are not developing Sim at this point, he needs to learn pitch later in the game. You can't have all your starters going 4 to 5 innings. And that is where this team will be in a couple of years if they don't start letting them pitch

Friday games are City Connect jersey, pitcher doesn't get to choose.

That would be fine, I just don't want him taking starts from any of the younger pitchers.

Lopez, Matthews and Over when healthy.

I am ready to move Paddack to the bullpen when everyone is healthy.

It was short lived, why stick with a pitcher who is pitching well, that would make no sense.

Maybe there is a town ball pitcher somewhere that could replace him, I am not sure he would do worse.