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Platoon

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Everything posted by Platoon

  1. Platoon
    Mike8791 has a valid point about closing, and that's the mentality of it. It's a singular role. It's not necessarily a more important role, but a blown save leaves a different taste in a teams mouth than a single against you in the 7th or 8th with guys on second and third. Walking off the field chewing on your sleeve sucks. Not all pitchers can deal with that feeling, and bounce back. Again, iam not contending that closing is more important, or more difficult, but I am positive that not all pitchers with shutdown talent have a closers mentally. There is a definite difference between losing a game in the 7th inning v the 9th.
  2. Platoon
    Its really nice that you clarified that. I think.
  3. Platoon
    I read that the long Cruz HR at TF was off The Duffman. Trading Duffy to a Central division foe would be a great move for the Twins offense.
  4. Platoon
    Hmmmm, I didn't know they played baseball across the pond?
  5. Platoon
    Sad, but so Twins like. In 2020 we unveil the new statue in the plaza.
  6. Platoon
    I don't disagree with the coin flip analogy at all. That said you could be short a few coins, since no pitchers were included. But, is it time for Falvine to dig up some of JP's coffee cans full of moldy cash? Despite the last paragraph your OP would indicate it is not. If, as opined all these guys are coin flips, exactly what would Jims money be spent on? And after you bought some expensive replacements, what does one do with their predecessor? Trading a "coin flip" will not bring a return, and one doesn't release players like this. I think, through no fault of their own, Falvine is stuck with an evaluation year, yet again. Injuries to Castro, Sano, and Buxton all bear individual tales of woe. They need a last chance? Replacements have been purchased at 1B and 2B. It would be foolish to trade Rosario for a poor half season, especially after keeping Dozier for 4 years. Rosario will end up being more consistent than Dozier in all likelihood. That leaves you upgrading right field with an offensive player over a defensive one. and if there is one thing MN does not need, it's one less glove. Someone in the OF is going to have to chase down all the ground balls that filter through that IF sieve!
  7. Platoon
    The OP referenced Joe Kelly and his LA contract and his roots in SoCal. It also opined on the matter of whether we could have or would have paid enough to Kelly to play in a colder climate. These are salient points often ignored by those of us who are content in the layered look. All one has to do to research the desire that humanity has, all things being equal, to live outside the borders of the frozen tundra, is to look at a population map of the US. Athletes are not immune to that feeling. Given age, income, and the ability to perform anywhere in North Amaerica they will naturally tend to migrate towards moderate climes, higher revenue teams, and bigger city social life. And since we can't, or won't spend enough to overcome the "livability" factor, we will never attract the big FA's. Pretending we could maybe, possibly, almost, we were in the running, do it, hasn't worked for almost 60 years. Maybe a new tack is in order.
  8. Platoon
    I too would want to see Romero show what he can do as a starter. Basically he would have to pitch his way off the rotation. Same of rthe internal options, regardless of what level they come from. If not now, when? This isn't a team where adding a dominant reliever will make you a solid contender. But I will say that being able to pick up a Kelly, ore someone else that is solid with a minimum of another year of control, preferably another two years, would make sense.
  9. Platoon
    Nick, no one enjoys reading articles by a pragmatist. It's a lot sexier to call for a high level action. Say, Kepler for Harper. Ok, if Kepler isn't enough I would throw in Astudillo. But reality sucks. And the reality is that the Twins problems are not simply for any specific shortcoming. You can't fault the anlaysis of Buxton or Sano. Everyone in MLB was sure they would be key players, league wide. Berrios? Many had questions on his ability to be an "ace". He is a reliable MLB starter, but unlikely to be an Ace. Reality is where Falvine understands he can't wave a wand and remake an entire roster in a year. They could try with the payroll levels the Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs, et al to toss around. But here comes reality again. The Twins aren't those teams. They are more in in the KC realm. Reality is the Twins only option to put a competitive team, year after year, on the field is to draft, develop, and promote, prospects, and to move pending FA's at there peak value. While signing a name FA or God forbid two, would sell some tickets, and create some buzz, it won't solve the problems this roster encompasses. That will only be resolved by accepting and acting on certain realities. Those being, that for years this orginisation was run as a good 'ole boys club. That drafting and developing was subpar at best. That off season signings were often over the hill "names to sell tickets. That competition for a #2 WC was the ultimate goal. Hopefully these things are in the past, and that the new regime concentrates on agressive proactive moves. That's really our only option. While Christmas is around the corner, I don't spect to find Bryce Harper under Falvines tree. JP may be a seasonal character, but he's more likely the Grinch than that Jolly Old Elf. Ho, Ho, Ho!
  10. Platoon
    If Sano and Buxton don't become the elite hitter, and elite all around player, they were projected to be, the Twins can't "buy" enough players to be competitive. While Rosario has some two way talent, most of the rest of the roster is blah. Either the defense is washed out by poor offense, or vice versa. Pretty much up and down the roster. I tend to believe that given the approach both desired, and enforced due to Pohlad/Molitor, on Falvine they will continue to build the orginisation to be more self sustaining. By that I mean manning a roster with internal draft choices, development, and trades. if they are analytical enough to figure out someone will hit a 3-1 curveball to the left side 72% of the time, they are analytical enough to know that the MN Twins will never spend/afford enough payroll to compete on a monetary basis with the big dogs. Spending money and wasting playing time on mid level FA's without the basis of a competitive roster is a fools errand, at best.
  11. Platoon
    A great mind once said: "Deja Vu all over again"
  12. Platoon
    I pilfered this Alex Cora quote from another blogger: ""We live in an era that hitting .210 with 30 homers and 70 RBI is acceptable and it's a good season. We don't believe that." it outlined my viewpoint of MLB in its current form to a "T"
  13. Platoon
    They are putting a 20x20 addition on the water treatment plant in the town in which I reside. They finally got the side walls up and the structural roof beams in place this week. No roof! No floor! No doors! No heat! This is the result of about 4 months of labor. Sadly, having watched the Goopher FB this year, the construction guys are having a more productive year than our striped rodents! ROW THE BOAT!
  14. Platoon
    I was talking to another baseball oriented fellow the other day. And we were discussing catchers "calling the game". Our question/observation was this. If catchers are truly calling the game, why do they spend time looking into the dugout before most pitches? Especially if no one is on base? And using a stat based managing philosophy that question becomes even more pertintnet. What catcher could ever memorize all the advantages certain pitches in certain counts offer? They are looking into the dugout for a reason. I highly doubt it's to see whether the Dominies Pizza guy showed up with his pepperoni, green olive special.
  15. Platoon
    IF analytics is what it is supposed to be, then the strategy of the game should be in those books the coaches all now hold. I am not being snarky either. The match ups and order of lineups is now mathematically delineated. Assuming you are not going to deviate excessively from those numbers, that leaves the managers importance more in the realm of organizing procedures and managing "people". While that always has been an important part of coaching any sport, it's import is now more pronounced.
  16. Platoon
    He must have an overwhelming ability to sell both his view on pitching and himself. I agree with Chief, this is an all in choice. Nowhere to hide if it fails. This seems another indication that the first two years were look, learn, and evaluate. Now it's time to implement.
  17. Platoon
    Sometimes positive abberations cause negative problems. Mauers 29 HR year is one, and that crazy month of May the Twins enjoyed is yet another. Not all good things, are good. I never saw Mauer as a true #3 hitter, as he lacked natural power. His numbers are more suited, it seems, to the leadoff spot. Something it took 14 1-2 years to get to. One of the issues that many had with Joe was his low key approach to apparently just about anything. While his on field success, and numerous comments from family and friends, make it obvious he is uber competitive, he managed to keep that under a bushel. A sideways besmirched look back at an umpire was likely the most visible form of consternation anyone has ever saw from him. Which by the way makes that look one of the last things a MLB umpire wants to see from a player. To continue on that track, many thought that because Mauer was a well paid, athletically successful team member, he had to be a vocal out front leader of the clubhouse. Sort of a quote machine like Brian Dozier was in the last year or so. Those expectations have always puzzled me. He never was vociferous, flashy, or openly opinionated. To expect him to transform himself into something he wasn't soley because he could hit a baseball at an elite level is simply unrealistic, and Mauer had no responsibility to make those visions a reality. I, like many, followed his whole career. I hope he makes it into the HOF. I do think he deserves it. If for some reason he doesn't, it will not be as much Joe Mauers loss, as that of the HOF.
  18. Platoon
    We don't differ in the desire to "get there". But we do differ on the possibilities of how to get there. Since nothing in Twins history indicates they are willing to take the premium FA route to getting there, I personally spend little time imagining the Twins signing a Bryce Harper type FA(s). Nor ahould Falvine. They know the constraints ownership has placed on them. Plus they must fortify themselves with a mood altering beverage or three, when they make the obligatory "JP has assured us we have all the means necessary.....blah blah blah". The Twins can put together a competitive orginisation with a long term basis. It's going to take time, which isn't easy to accept. But that impatience isn't really, as yet, Falvines fault. It's from years of Terry Ryan simply selling the vision of being a "contender" in the generally mediocre central division. That philosophy had its merits. It kept him employed, it kept the turnstiles spinning, and it made the bottom line on JP's P&L black. While Pohlad hasn't actually thrown the vault wide open, he knows he has to do something to reverse the attendance (read revenue) downturn. So while Flavey and Levine won't be given unlimited funds, they will get a chance to build a sustainable and effect operation. But no matter how much wishin and hopin goes on, Harper isn't coming here.
  19. Platoon
    It wasn't long ago that Rosario would have been shipped out for a warm left handed pitcher.as for Sano and Buxton? I will keep Buxton, and others who aren't interested may keep Jake Cave. It's a deal I would make any day. Sano is a little more difficult. Talent isn't the issue. Commitment and work ethic appear to be a possible impediment to his reaching his potential. If he figures that out, he will scare MLB pitchers for a decade. While he may well do it, I am not anywhere near as confident of him as Buck!
  20. Platoon
    And why will the next free agent be better than Morrison? Or (fill in the blank). One can wish until hell freezes over that the Twins will go out and fill all their holes with some of the big names on the market. But if you continue to do that you are ignoring 58? years of history. Not all, but too many FA will not come to this locale, all momentary considerations being close to equal. And neither Calvin or the Pohlads have given any indication they are going to spend money out of their own pockets at the level needed to even begin to entice that level FA. So you can sit and wish for something that won't happen, or at least go a route that is available. I used to want a Lamborghini. I decided if I couldn't have a Lamborghini I wouldn't have anything. One day it dawned on me that refusing to acknowledge not being able to have a Lamborghini wasn't getting me anywhere. Literally. So I bought a Ram pickup.it ain't no Lamborghini, but at least I now have a chance of getting somewhere!
  21. Platoon
    I am completely with you on the theory that being caught in the middle is worse than either extreme. That was probably Terry Ryans biggest weakness, although he likely preferred the term "competitive"? I don't want the Twins to be able to possibly compete with Cleveland for the Central title, or for the #2 WC slot. I want them to be able to complete for the whole deal. Watching the teams involved this year leaves one with a clear vision of how far away we are from that goal. That is if we could see that far. Don't cobble together something in 2019 for another faux playoff run. Hoping that another year of rebuild won't happen won't make the necessity for one go away. Nor will the Twins ever walk away with a major difference making FA. Wishing for, or operating on, that happenstance is both disappointing and foolhardy. Take the time to build a solid foundation, draft and develop, and move pending FA for something more that lottery choices. That's the sensible process in this market. Which leave this remaining question: Can Falvine acoomplish it? To that matter, the jury is still out.
  22. Platoon
    Your suggestion that the odor of weed emanated from the media pool should weigh heavily on the proprietors of this site!
  23. Platoon
    The contact part is important. Not making outs was the genisis of Moneyball. Managing and evaluating talent in baseball should still be identifying who has the physical tools to drive a ball out of the park, or deep into a gap, regularly. Then encouraging and refining that tool for those players. It should also include a reiteration(s) of an age old, but never will change, fact. When you are down in the count, you are hitting the pitchers pitch. And unless it's a horrid mistake, it's not gonna be your pitch. There are some constants that cannot be changed or altered by a new approach. Bases are still 90' apart, and pitchers don't throw the same stuff 1-2 as they do 2-0. If you don't believe me, ask Sano. But you had best wait till he figures it out himself.
  24. Platoon
    To get the most out of an existing roster, players have to believe the guy leading them. They have to trust him, but they don't have to "like" him. They may think he is an *^*hole, but they have to think he is everyone's *^*hole. And the very first way a manager starts to lose the clubhouse is with playing favorites, and dishing out out discipline unevenly. That's not about evaluating talent or strategy, that's about managing people. If 12 year old kids can sense this, MLB players certainly can. Next would come strategy which in any sport is always somewhat subjective. No one will agree with every move, but you have to minimize the "WTF" moments. Judging any sports manager, for me, has always been sort of a reverse process. Meaning, I don't think I have ever saw a good manager make a bad team good, but oh lord I have seen an awful lot of poor managers make a good team bad!
  25. Platoon
    I used to play ball with a first baseman I referred to as "The Refridgerator". Not only because he was the same size, but also the same mobility. If you hit him with a throw, he caught it. Off target by a couple feet? Not a chance. While no one in MLB is on that level, like everything else, it simply based on a sliding scale.
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