Platoon

Or maybe the gaudy numbers should have been believed, at lest until proven wrong. Another gaudy number was Santiagos walk rate. And his recent W/L and ERA. Well we fixed both the walk rate, and the others. In other words, some guys just plain walk more than others. Not everyone is Phil Hughes. (Insert your favorite joke here) But imagine being a pitcher who walks a few, and going to an orginisation that abhors the BB. Don't tell me that does not affect your process. We seem to try to fix people, before they are broke. That does not work, until they convince themselves they are.

One of Molitors reason for the demotions, was to protect the team? From what? And if Albers is "The Protector", why wasn't he here before this. They don't seem to get it. It isn't that these guys aren't struggling, it's that they have mastered AAA. What's to learn there, but more bad habits which you can easily get away with. What a mess!

All angst, anger, disappointment, and disgust aside, there is only one way for this team to go! And that's forward. Forward with the Buxtons, Sanos, Polanco's, Rosario's, Berrios, Chargois, etc. forward with all of those who have mastered AAA, even those exceptional in AA. Why? Because it's either these guys, or your toast. All the Andrew Albers, Grossmans, Escobars, Plouffes, and Suzukis of the world aren't going to win anything. Yes, I know you need fill ins and depth. Which you can pick up anywhere, anytime, as we are well aware of. Maybe moreso than any team in sports!

Your last sentence is actually sort of scary!

“I love getting guys experience, especially when we are where we are (in the standings), but there comes a point where it doesn’t seem like the right thing,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said. “We’ll see how they do down there the next 10 days. “It gets to a point where you’re not doing him any favors right now,” Molitor said. “You still have to try to protect your team.” Two quotes from Molitor. And two thoughts from me. First off, is he making personnel decisions now? If he has usurped Antony's authority, and Pohlad was serious about his no touch status, good luck finding a decent GM. Second, if you want to protect your team, quit puttimg such idiotic lineups together. I used to think the Timberwolves were the premier BF in the Twin Cities, but this makes them look like geniuses in comparison!

The fact is, when I saw this lineup I almost laughed and cried at the same time. I have long been a believer in the thought that, "if Trevor Plouffe is your cleanup hitter, that's all you need to know about your lineup"! . Inserting Grossman in the 3 hole, makes me rethink that broad, but valid philosophy! I am a big advocate of using this year to analyze players for the future, but JHC, we must have something better to do with a lineup spot that put Grossmann in the three hole. I don't care if Sano is hitting a buck 49, sit him there for the year! Either Molitor believes this is his best chance to win, or he has no idea of what a future lineup will consist of. Either scenario is unacceptable!

I spent most of the day with my granddaughter trimming trees, cleaning her room, going for pizza, and the park. I just hated to mis this game. I could tell from the lineup we were goin after em! How far are we ahead?

They must have waived the toll on that damn bridge, or else 8K wouldn't cover it!

If I was pitching this game, and turned around and looked at this defense, I would hurl also!

When looking at the two lineups, I struggle to discern which 3-4 tandem I would go with? Grossman/Pluffe or Cabrerra/Martinez? Hmm, I might have to mull that over a bit? I will get back to this later...........

It seemed like a good idea at the time! An often thought but many times regretted canard. The latest involved a request for GT volunteers. You know the drill. Anyone who wants to help, take one step forward. Suddenly you turn around, and find out everyone else took a step back, but you. Your habitual lack of attention which manifested itself somewhere around kindergarten, has finally caught up with you, there is nowhere to run. So you Sally forth. (When I typed that, it suddenly dawned on me that is where the name for that comic strip came from. It's amazing how dense one can be over that many years.) One of the defined requirements for a GT is positivity, which eliminates virtually all Twins related baseball talk. Leaving us with politics, religion, and Detroit. Leaving us with in essence, Detroit. One question I have always wondered about, well maybe not always, is why are the Detroit Tigers, the Tigers? Is it because Cincinnati stole the Bengals? Or because the oblong ball team took the Lions? What up with Detroit and large kitties? I can see the Minnesota Twins, the Dallas Cowboys, the LA Angels, and the Washington Generals. But I know of no tropical jungles in Detroit suitable for large cat habitat. That said, maybe there are large felines roaming the streets, which brings us to......... Outward flight. It's well known that Detroit proper has been losing population for years, but the emigration reached a preposterous level recently when 1500 Detroitians tried to sneak into Canada, across the St. Clair river via rafts, inner tubes, and other non bouyant vessels. Braving carp infested waters, these emigrants left Detroit with only the clothes on their backs, and looking at some pics, not even that much. The ever alert Homeland Security forces in Sarnia quickly captured the interlopers. Wishing to avoid another Bay of Pigs public relations disaster, the US and Canadian governments quickly organized an exchange wherein Canada bussed the miscreants back across the river in exchange for Justin Morneau, Celine Dion, and the Stanley Cup. But Canada being Canada, all were first given a free medical exam, and gift certificates to Tim Hortons, eh. Since Detroit is in Michigan I think a comment or two on the state itself is warranted. Michigan has those unique 'Michigan Left Turns'. Wherein you turn right, drive halfway to Kalamazoo, make a U-turn and try and make up for lost time. And in an effort to make driving more confusing, have intersected I69 and I96 in Lansing. Due to the lack of attention referenced in Par 1, I found myself headed westbound, staring at a sign that said Grand Rapids, 40 miles, while attempting to go to Toronto. While my lack of awareness, was a mitigating factor, the MDOT decision to have these two freeways intersect at all, was irresponsible at best. The weather. It's gonna be gorgeous! No chance of a lost Dozier home run to bemoan, no weather related short starts taxing the BP, and no watching a FSN video about past Twins greats. Actually I don't think any FSN at all. Too bad, as Berrios is scheduled to hurl. Today's lineup: Tigers Daniel Norris (L) 1. Ian Kinsler ® 2B 2. Tyler Collins (L) CF 3. Miguel Cabrera ® 1B 4. Victor Martinez (S) DH 5. J.D. Martinez ® RF 6. Justin Upton ® LF 7. Casey McGehee ® 3B 8. James McCann ® C 9. Andrew Romine (S) SS Twins Jose Berrios ® 1. Brian Dozier ® 2B 2. Jorge Polanco (S) SS 3. Robbie Grossman (S) LF 4. Trevor Plouffe ® 1B 5. Miguel Sano ® DH 6. Max Kepler (L) RF 7. Eduardo Escobar (S) 3B 8. Juan Centeno (L) C 9. Danny Santana (S) CF

When speaking of pitching it is remiss to add that I cannot believe any pitcher would want to look over his shoulder and see this defense standing behind him. I know analytics has changed how the game and players are viewed. But some things are static. You need good defense up the middle, that's not ever going to change unless they change the shape of the field. And you can give up a little at two of the corners, at the most. When Abner Doubleday said, "if you can hit, they will find you a place to play", I don't think he meant all those hitters were supposed to be on the same team.

It's obvious that they need at least an impact arm, and another solid middle of the rotation type next year. Dozier is part of the most logical way to get one of them. There is a lot of talk about how he might not bring a big enough return, but he might if you add to the package. I know 30 HR second baseman don't grow on trees, but 30 HR in the OF is not uncommon. Acknowledging that other GM's are not fools, his value will never be higher, there is nowhere but down for him to go. His defense is replaceable, and this team doesn't need sticks, it needs pitching and defense. Letting the desperation for a SS cloud the common sense of trading Dozier for a above average SP is shortsighted.

THIS! Is what I meant. He did that, and the catch while reaching around the back of the screen, like it was just so easy. And for him it was.

They were winning when their offense was masking the poor pitching. And that just isn't a long term solution.

Well it's unlikely Van was wearing his high heels. Last time he wore them for golf, the greens keeper was very upset!

I have found dehydrated ice, or ICE as Chi says, to be particularly effective!

Frustrated? With you? Hard to believe! Have you given thought to changing Whine Line to a site for the lovelorn?

I would go with lifting the car, kicking a door in generally causes a police report, if you're not lucky, charges will follow. After a lengthly and expensive trial, incarceration. Next thing you know, you end up with Bubba as your cell mate. I've seen this happen many times, it never turns out well!

I don't want to nitpick, but I assume if you can speak Canadian, you also should be able to understand it?

Well I about 5-6 years we can find out. . Sarcasm aside, the most entertaining threads seem to be in the worst games. It seems to bring out the snarky, yet overall harmless side of the bunch.

I don't totally disagree on Polanco, and regardless of the lack of MiLB innings there, it's worth the look during this lost season. That said, I don't see him as the answer, nor am I sure what it is. Vielma is the only prospect I have heard whose glove is deemed exceptional, and that is just hearsay. All I know is I see some of the young elite SS around MLB, and wonder why we can't have shiny things!

I had my pitchfork out when I read your header. But I don't disagree with the basic text of your post. I personally would trade Dozier if I could get a SP who is solid and under 30. Can I? I have no idea. But aside from the valid points you made, your post brings up this sad fact. It will be 2018 before there is a semblance of hope for a competitive team, and then only if a new GM bites the bullet, and really does some proactive work. 8 years just to get back to the "possibility" of being competitive. Whoda thunk it? It borders on embarrassing!

Mauer also suffered from 'Rod Carew Disease'. Everything was so easy for him, he always looked like he lacked effort. And while Sanos stint in RF has virtually ruined the meaning of the following description, he made some of the most athletic plays as a catcher I have ever seen. He obviously loved the position, tis a shame the concussion ended it prematurely.

Because it happened light years ago in this "what have you done for me lately" 24 hour news cycle, it's not always easy to remember that Mauer has done 3 times, what no other AL catcher has done, and IIRC 3 out of the 4 times in MLB history what any catcher has done. That is considerably more prestige than saying someone led the league in HR's or BA Percent even 6-7 times. He is all basically all alone in winning battling titles from the full time catching position. I wonder how many catchers MLB has run through the mill in its history?