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Platoon

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Everything posted by Platoon

  1. Platoon
    There is so much we don't know about what goes on behind the scenes. We don't even really know how much influence Molitor has over roster decisions. He uses the word "I" often, but is it real or being a good soldier. So we are left with observations. His dart board lineups have been a constant since he arrived, so are they now driven by the use of analytical metrics, or just the same dart board? He does not seem to relish the youth movement. His preference for mediocre veterans over promising youth seems obvious. His in game decision on pitchers compounds an already poor pitching staff. He does not seem to "think well on his feet", in game time situations. A lot of these are subjective views. But the fact remains, a few years ago this team was considered on a path with the Cubs, and Astros. We aren't anymore. A lot of that falls on Pohlad and Ryan. Ryans gone, Pohlad ain't going anywhere. If Falvine is going to clean house, and change the dynamics of this orginisation, then a logical step is a new face in the dugout. And I would be all for that.
  2. Platoon
    Garver I can understand. But Park? Just because the precious administration sunk a boatload of money on yet another DH/1B type, doesn't mean that the current one needs to continue the folly. Even Vargas is four years younger and has an outside chance for improvement. Park on the other hand is a slow pitch softball player who will never adjust to MLB pitching. When he hits it, it goes a long way. The power is real. But he would need to improve his clairvoyancy quite a bit. Guess hitters who can't see the future don't end up well.
  3. Platoon
    I don't think the Twins tanked after the ASG. I think they simply found the level of their current talent was not competitive with real playoff level baseball. This is not a knock on Falvine. I think they realize it, and I think they intend to do something about it. It might be a very active winter.
  4. Platoon
    The stats above show exactly why Dozier would not work in the middle of the lineup. This year, for the third straight year he going on his annual statistical binge when it is least needed. Two years ago he flatlined during the heat of the 2nd WC hunt. Last year he awoke about the time the team was statistically eliminated. The fact that this was at the ASG break is irrelevant. And this year he has been pretty low key during his teams rise, albeit temporarily, to the top of the division. Needless to say upon the waving of that "white flag" he has again went on a meaningless tear.
  5. Platoon
    Chief?
  6. Platoon
    The trade was made with what's happened in July in mind, not what might have happened last off season. Adding two mid level relievers would not have made this team a contender. The SP simply would not allow that. Throw in an offense that I still think has not matured, and lack of a lynchpin SS and you really aren't a contender. Relying on some other teams slow start to a season to chase a second WC slot is not the groundwork for a solid orginisation. We traded away two very mid level pitchers from a team that is not yet ready to play with the big boys. And since Kintlzler is a FA, we can resign him in the off season if we want to pony up the cash.
  7. Platoon
    At the risk of repeating myself, despite decades in the game Molitor seems to have no "feel" for either a game, or the part of the season the team is in. His decisions are jerky jerky, someone said panicky. I think he has managed with an eye on his job status, far more than on the teams development. A bad manager will drag a good team down far further than a good mangager will lift one up. Putting Buxton in the 3 hole to start the season should have alone been cause for immediate termination.
  8. Platoon
    Sports is easier to watch if you concentrate more on appreciating effort than the simple metrics of W's and L's. With a few exceptions it's a well known fact that half of the teams playing in any one game lose. But all their fans had expected both of them to win. Once, when umping a Legion game a manager ran behind me on the way to coach third. He had been (unjustly I am sure) dissatisfied with a non balk call earlier. He said, "we're trying to win a game here". During the next inning change the other manager ran behind me and in a loud stage whisper said, "just so you know, we are too" . Needless to say, despite both their best efforts, one of them did not.
  9. Platoon
    An independent blogger used the word "panic" the other day for the way Molitor used his pen. In a manner I agree, but refer to it more as managing for his job. I agree, they need to clarify his position. I only hope Pohlad kicks him upstairs, I think he will do less damage there. While I sympathize with his having to deal with this pitching staff, I simply do not see a MLB manager when I watch him operate. While Pohlad tried to do well for his friend, he did a disservice to the team leaving a lame duck in place during an important developmental phase.
  10. Platoon
    This is maybe a simplistic version of whether to buy or sell. But, the Twins should no more make their decision on buy/sell on the Oakland series, than on the Dodger series. They should make it on what they need to do to be (truly) competitive. Whether they sweep the A's or get swept their strengths and deficiencies remain in place. They have 3 shortstops, one can't field at a high level, one can't hit, and one can't currently do either. They have a ground ball closer who is starting to be abused. They have no bench bat. They have some excellent young positional talent. They have an expendable second baseman, DH (RG) and the aforementioned closer. None of this changes this weekend. Beating Oakland is the same as losing to the Dodgers. You still retain middle of the pack mediocrity. Let's use Dozier or Santana as an example. Those who say that both will help the Twins next year are to an extent correct. But unless you use them, or some other players who would also fall in that category as trade chips, it's a moot point. You cannot win with this roster, and whether it's Santana or Dozier or ???, that is the problem. And it does not change no matter the outcome in Oakland.
  11. Platoon
    I understand your point, to a point. That said, I can't see either Santana or Doziers trade value increasing. But it could easily decrease. I should have added Robbie Grossman to the list. Some have considered Rosario. I at this time would not. Granted he does not play baseball like a rocket scientist, but he has talent. I remember when KC had all that youth. I also remember it seemed to take much longer for it to come to fruition than the good folks in MO thought acceptable.
  12. Platoon
    I wrote a shorter version of this the other day. There is no worse place to be than treading water. . I had made the observation that the Indians were not being curteous enough to run away from the division, and that was unfortunate. It would be nice to believe this team is "there", but it isn't. So far Falvine has resisted the temptation to trade off the future for a faux run at the second WC, and their stated intent is to keep that philosophy. I also hope they add this thought to their operating modus. Trade Kintzler, Dozier, and Santana for the best talent you can get. None of them will be an asset when and if this team is relevant. I waffled on Santana as he is a pitcher, but he has reverted to what he always was. Jekyl and Hyde Santana. And focus on pitching, pitching, and more pitching. I still think the offense will mature. I know the opinion stated is not popular after the last 6-7 years, but if we don't want another lost decade, we need to improve the roster for the next 5 years, not the next 5 weeks.
  13. Platoon
    I would love Bautista, and am no fan of RG. I still think Vargas has at least an upside. But to me, any money, prospects or veterans traded, should solely go into the pitching pool. Abysmal doesn't even begin to describe our pitching.
  14. Platoon
    I can't see there winning % continuing for many of the reasons stated above. And I can live with that because frankly they just do not have the arms to contend. And it's not just one arm short, it's basically half a staff, with no realistic way to acquire them in time to help this year. It has been written by some that the Twins "owe" it to the fans and players to go all in for this year? I think what they owe the fans is to finally put together a sustainable orginisation that plays fundamentally sound baseball with a decent roster construct. Basically, I hope Falvine and Molitor don't do any serious damage in a vain attempt to make this team something it isn't. Every move made should be to improve the team so that the young core of this roster can succeed in the next 4 years.
  15. Platoon
    And if someone wrote a similar post it would be "also shabby". .
  16. Platoon
    I thought Granites catch was "not too shabby". But that was about it. I find it hard to believe that Buxtons defense is being challenged by someone who managed to run back on a high fly ball and not drop it. Barring injury Buxton should be a fixture in CF for years. If Molitor starts jerking him around so he can play Granite, I would find it necessary to take up a Twitter, so I could tweet my displeasure in real time!
  17. Platoon
    I would be of the sell mode, and it would Dozier, and Grossman. Rosaio if I got more than I expected, and Santana in the same frame. Sadly, I doubt you will get any young pitching for anyone other than Erv. As one can see by watching this years baseball pitching is not easy to come by. But in general I would be in sell mode. Not tear down mode. Sell, with emphasis and tweaking the SP. Sanatana is the problem. He is the only practical value we have to trade, and we don't have enough pitching to trade pitching.
  18. Platoon
    As to the steal, the runner on third had to have broken very early, otherwise the way it was defensed gets him. Even with Doziers arm, which btw seems to be getting a "little less stronger" lately. Dozier did what he could, chasing the guy at first was not going to keep the run from scoring. On another point, yes we could have electronic everything, but why stop at balls and strikes. 3 video umps per game. (the older ones who stopped at the brat stand too often) . They watch every play. See a shoulder twitch, BALK! A close play, REPLAY! A player mouth the F word. EJECTION. There would be no end to the level of technology or insanity, the amount of replays or the length of the game. Ugh!
  19. Platoon
    Oh please, please, let's not have electronically called balls and strikes. I managed,and hated umps! Then I umped, and hated managers! But they have to be part of the game. i watched most of the game, but missed a few parts. I read that the Twins suicide squeezed with two outs? And had no one to PH for Castro in the 9th as we were carrying 9? relief pitchers? Maybe we also need electronic FO people, and an electronic manager? Too bad someone doesn't invent a game we could play on like a TV screen, and eliminate all the human beings completely!
  20. Platoon
    There are a lot of things for Twins fans, and the Twins themselves to worry about. Byron Buxton is not one of them.
  21. Platoon
    I tried to find a Chinese restaurant in Ames one evening. It was not easy. Ames is a huge city!
  22. Platoon
    Thanks! I don't think looking at this roster, and this pitching staff, and suggesting ways to improve it is at all indicative of wanting a constant rebuild. I view it more as reality. The Twins are far more entertaining to watch than last year. There's some semblance of talent on the field. But for the FO to think that this pitching staff could take us to even a second WC spot would border on malfeasance. Making a desperate trade for a faux WC race would set this orginisation back a year at least. It sucks after six years, but the future is still where it's at in TwinsWorld.
  23. Platoon
    The Twins are not a team of good pitchers playing beneath their level temporarily. But they are a team of some young position players who will improve with seasoning. You can look with optimism at the position players, and with some MiLB replacements even if a veteran such as Dozier, Grossmann, Escobar, or even Rosario is traded. But even BD won't bring a kings ransom. As for Santana, if you had prospects blocked in MiLB he goes, but we don't. So we almost have to keep him. Frankly it's going to take a lot of money, some luck and a genius to solve the MLB pitching. We should be very select sellers for the simple reason is it is virtually impossible to win with consistency with pitching of this level. The offense will consistently get better, with or without several of the above named players. I doubt the same can be said for the pitching.
  24. Platoon
    The Twins aren't going to keep winning this year with or without Santana. Not unless some dramatic change in the pitching staff, both SP and RP is made. And I frankly do not see that happening. There is no good answer to this question, but there are several options to choose from. IF I can get two solid, close to MLB prospects I would probably pull the trigger. And the main reason is numbers. The team has an almost bare cupboard in MiLB, and a serious lack of depth, not to speak of quality on the MLB roster. The shortages are mind boggling. In a normal situation guys like Chief are correct, you can't keep trading for the next shiny object. We could hope the Twins would keep Ervin, and go ape bleep crazy in the FA market, but that ain't gonna happen. The Twins problem isnt upgrading a MLB staff, it's acquiring one.
  25. Platoon
    At this juncture I would not trade Santana. The only reason I would consider it is if the haul included a couple of the very hard to define "solid SP prospects". And the only reason for that is this team need numbers so badly. It does little good to have an Ace, if the bottom 2-3 of the rotation is cannon fodder.
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