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Everything posted by Platoon
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Article: No Suspension For Miguel Sano
Platoon replied to Seth Stohs's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
The Puckett thing has certainly muted how his legacy is viewed. The film clips don't change, but I think the excitement isnt the same. And I ain't no prude. As for hitting on ushers, fan behavior shows you don't have to be only 20 to do that. But the fact that it was persistent enough that they felt the need to rotate ushers, and keep female ushers out of that area does indicate he crossed the flirting line. -
Article: No Suspension For Miguel Sano
Platoon replied to Seth Stohs's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
I had expected a suspension. But I am not surprised there wasn't one either. I do believe however that something did happen that seriously upset the woman involved. First of all this was not an anonymous accusation. She put her credibility and her privacy on the line. Secondly, other examples of that sort of behavior towards women by Sano was made public. That's a lot of coincidences for someone like me, who isn't a believer in excessive coincidences. MLB, not the Twins made the decision on whether Sano would be disciplined. That can be debated till hell freezes over. But if I am Falvine I would have to imagine that there are real concerns here about whether Sanos lack of personal discipline will someday come at a bigger cost than his bat can cover. I hope Sano views this situation as a chance for a do over in the way he handles both his personal life, and his craft. But I really don't see that happening. -
Article: Report From The Fort: Escobar's Opportunity
Platoon replied to Seth Stohs's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
The article could have been shortened to "Molitor believes in Escobar". There was a lot of speculation that Andrianza had a shot at SS, including mine. But that was sort of wishful thinking. Minus a Sano suspension EE was always the guy. Molitor has always gotten him playing time. And in all honesty Escobar is a nice and reliable bench piece, and no doubt a great teammate. And while he has always hit in spurts, a MLB level SS, he is not. That said, with the above factors added to Molitors proclivity for offense over defense, this decision was a forgone conclusion.- 11 replies
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- eduardo escobar
- ehire adrianza
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I don't think anyone thinks Andrianza is a starting SS right now. But he may be the best option the Twins have this week? Rosterman made an excellent observation a page ago. All the depth at SS (we are told) and almost everyone of them, including Polanco seems slated for 2nd base. Or the OF. Javier (sp) may be the exception. Maybe our depth is at second? I can't say I have seen enough of Andrianza to have an eye test confirmation of his glove, but I have of EE. Saying he is steady at the position is like saying a 6'5" guy is a steady center in the NBA, but ignoring the fact everyone can reach further and jump higher. And maybe it's just me, but his hitting seems to suffer the more he plays. But, that may just me.
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Will Congress Screw Minor League Players Today?
Platoon commented on Steven Buhr's blog entry in SD Buhr/Jim Crikket
Thanks for a heads up on this. Why is Congress involved in this. And why MiLB baseball. It's bad enough MLB has an anti-trust exemption. So why not other under represented folks? Fast food workers, hotel staff, people who work at a corporate hog farm. I think it's a disgrace when MiLB players are the only ones who get the attention of our leaders. There are so many other classifications of workers to starve out of a job. In reality it's time for MLB players to get a little pragmatic, and acknowledge the fact that they are lucky to be where they are. I am sure they did work hard to get where that far. But I bet a third of them are where they are, are not simply on talent. There are likely extenuating and contributing circumstances involved. For example, you don't want to be a good minor league OF in the Twins orginisation. You could be in MiLB for quite awhile, talented or not. -
There are two likely scenarios. And seemingly clear cut. EE bat likely will not cover his glove at SS for any length of time. And Andrianza's glove will not cover his bat for long either. It boils down to the decision of offense over defense at a defensive position. A Sano suspension is a moot point in the argument. If he is suspended, they both play. The Twins offense should be able to cover up for a defensive SS. I know the offensive numbers were inflated in the soft schedule at the end of last year, but the core players are a year older, and it should improve for simply that reason. I would go with Andrianza, but that's just me.
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- minnesota twins
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I think two things need to be considered. Is the commissioner taking into consideration any of the reports of Sanos alleged behavior in milb? And the fact that the other examples listed happened before Me2? I am not here to debate Me2, simply to note that it has changed the discourse and perception on the topic!
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Article: Twins 2018 Position Analysis: Shortstop
Platoon replied to Nick Nelson's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
I have considered this theory about the defense of a SS being less important in the game today. It may even be valid. But I hope not. Watching the athletiscm of a very good defensive SS is one of the joys of the game. But if because of the long fly ball becoming such a dominant part of the game, that is lost, the game will not be enhanced. I for one see nothing good coming out of watching guys hit fly balls, some of which even clear the fence, and striking out at record levels. Then again I may be simply a dinasour, and the newer fans will enjoy the new style. As usual, time, and attendance will tell.- 23 replies
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- jorge polanco
- nick gordon
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Article: Twins 2018 Position Analysis: Shortstop
Platoon replied to Nick Nelson's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
My version of the SS position is thus: I want a very good fielding SS who can hit enough to play. I prefer that to a very good hitting SS, who can field good enough to play. They could be seen as a trade off, except it's a defensive position by nature. Regrettably Polanco is in the latter category.- 23 replies
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- jorge polanco
- nick gordon
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I like this FO much better than the previous one. They seemed to make more or less the best of what they had in front of them. I mostly discount the Darvish issue as something that won't change. No matter that all FA lists are relative, we are not going to ever sign the top dogs while JP owns the Twins. This left them to do what they could with the next tier. I agree they deserve a high mark. What I wonder about is whether this is a repeatable philosophy, or operating theory. Or was it the result of a weird year for the FA market due to things like the luxury tax issue, an odd mix of talent, and which teams were actively competing for FA's? Since I don't ever expect the Twins to sign the big fish, if they can continue this type of flexible and semi aggressive thinking, I think they have a good chance to be a competitive franchise moving forward. What happens at the trade deadline will be another benchmark. And it will be interesting to see if the FA market returns to "normal" next year, how they play in the same pool as the Sharks.
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Article: Twins To Sign Lance Lynn
Platoon replied to Tom Froemming's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
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Why Do We Care About Launch Angle?
Platoon commented on Parker Hageman's blog entry in Baseball Good
I completely understand the concept. But is there a line drawn where certain players would not benefit from this. Smaller less powerful hitters. Guys whose well struck fly balls are ending up on the warning track. And doesnt this, no matter the terminology, make hitting a competitive version of home run derby. If you are changing the essence of your swing to hit the ball over the fence, that's what it amounts to. Lastly, if that is the fact, how does one equate this philosophy with "working the count"? Would you not instead be ready to hit the first good FB or hanger you see? Since there is a significant difference in BA when behind in the count, I can't believe the HR rate would not suffer the same fate? Or worse? It just seems to me that emphasizing hitting long flys would have impacts all over the game.- 5 comments
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- launch angle
- max kepler
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I would think by now both the agents and the FO types know this is an odd year, or the beginning of a sea change. Either way, the agents have to know the FO's are bargain shopping, and the FO have to know the agents will listen to what used to be low ball offers. It's too late in the spring for your feelings to be hurt. If you put a couch on CL for $300, and 2 months later it's still sitting in your living room, you may just edit your ad to include, OBO!
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Article: Report From The Fort: Peeking Ahead At Payroll
Platoon replied to John Bonnes's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
Assuming your numbers are correct. . I never expect the Twins to be able to compete with NY, LA, Cubs, etc year to year on big contracts. Nor spend uselessly in a down cycle, aka tanking. That said, I still have always thought the Pohlads were particularly tight fisted when it came to financially backing the purchase of a FA who could be a season changer. That's been my constant complaint about ownership. But these percentages are consistently low over that cycle. I can live with some 43% some years, but you better be banking that money for the 55% years when you want to make a run at it!- 16 replies
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- brian dozier
- joe mauer
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Not too much to add, you are pretty much in line with my thoughts on the issue. I would imagine RG goes north. Management types cannot resist the opportunity to take one last look. What would concern me is if RG was just passable, and too experienced, and expensive, to walk away from. And with Morrison taking his DH time, Molitor would feel it necessary to give RG OF innings. Ugh! With a SO oriented pitching staff, this would be barely acceptable. But despite the FO acquisitions this off season, this remains in essence a PTC staff. And with the emphasis on fly ball hitting, it could be almost said that an OF'ers defense abilities, are starting to equate a SS one.
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- minnesota twins
- zack granite
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Article: Twins 2018 Position Analysis: Catcher
Platoon replied to Nick Nelson's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
Those SS innings behind the plate from Garver were less than impressive defensively. We better hope it was just butterflies he felt, instead of it looking like he was trying to catch one! -
Article: Report From The Fort: A Market Squeezed
Platoon replied to John Bonnes's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
I think these are all valid points that John has reported Tony Clark believes affect the market. But I am surprised the issue of more analytical FO's and their supposed cooling on the practice of buying the last 3 good years of a veteran player, with a 6 year contract was not part of the discussion. i think to an extent that will continue to lower contracts, or at least lengths of them. As for tanking, that is common in other sports. Revenue sharing can be a factor. But as long as drafting in inverse order is in place, there will always be a race to the bottom. The NBA has done it for years. Different league, same issue. And they buy and sell contracts like commodities as well. There were a lot of moving parts to this years FA market, which was already weak at best. It might take a couple years to see if Clark is right. But I do think there is a change in philosophy in the majority of FO. More executives believe they can win by being smarter, not richer. That may well be a factor in changing contract structure. But sooner or later the fact that being smarter, and richer is even better, than just being smarter, will again become evident. That doesn't mean 6 year contracts for 32 yr. old pitchers will continue, but it does mean that someone will still be overpaying for players services, just possibly for shorter lengths of time. -
The Finance Desk: a look at 2018 attendance
Platoon commented on Bryan Borchardt's blog entry in The Circleback Blog
The teams last three years, more likely 4 years were schizophrenic. And last years seemingly successful season was not looking good at the break. Closing the year out by getting bombed in NY didn't generate any enthusiasm either. There's just too many gaps for the average fan. One has to go into the season knowing it's going to be a good year, not hoping it will. And those empty early season seats can't be recouped. -
The fact that the Twins are touting the lack of a need for a fifth starter ignores the fact that the fifth starter is actually needed. He will be pitching not every 5 days, but every 4. Sadly it's the Twins first starter that will be missing those games, something Molitor selectively avoids mentioning, at least to The extent he can. So in essence Molitor does have to name a fifth starter on day 4 of the season, for short of injury or performance deficientcy, that pitcher will be in the rotation from day one going forward. It's the first starter he doesn't have to name, that guy has a cast on his hand.
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Aces High or Aces Low? Do you Need an Ace to Win the World Series?
Platoon commented on Jamie Cameron's blog entry in Curveball Blog
Defense, and pitching is defense, wins the most consistently in any sport. That's because it's more easily repeatable. And that's magnified in the baseball playoffs, where offenses cannot feast on the 4-5 starters. Doc has a point on the 3 number 2's theory. But it is complicated if you get stuck in the WC one and done. Other than that, I would rather have the 3 number 2's than a 1,3,4 combo. -
An interesting question is why Dozier prefers leadoff? While analytics has changed the evaluation of players in the FO, I doubt the view of traditional lineup spot prestige has changed among players. Everyone normally wants to hit 3-4, from the time they start in Little League on up. Ten bucks says EE secretly sees himself as a 3 hole hitter, and would jump at the chance.

