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Platoon

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Everything posted by Platoon

  1. Platoon
    I would agree with most of the Buxton scenario. He should and likely will go north. IF the Twins didn't, and decided to add the obligatory veteran OF to the initial roster, I would not be surprised. Disappointed, and resigned to our fate, but not surprised! Nolasco! Buxton is one thing, since his service time issue is apparently past being an issue, money does not rear its ugly head in the outcome. But it does with Ricky. One can rightfully surmise that Nolasco should not be part of the rotation, but then one has to consider an avenue to that decision, and that avenue would have to include historical reference. Since he will be untradeable for the considerable future, and if I wanted to bring my best team north, I would just cut him, or make a poor trade and eat salary. The BP is a horrible alternative. Actually, if he is going to be an a*^hole out there, they would be better off starting him. Let him make the move. But a leopard is still a leopard until it changes its spots, and the one in the FO is at present, still a leopard! Btw, nice backhanded shot at Ryan, "even Terry Ryan isn't silly enough....."
  2. Platoon
    Maybe the problem wasn't bringing him up, but bringing him up and not letting him play full time. I seem to remember him sitting an awful lot. Likely another mistake caused by the push to be the second WC spot. His history while brief is exceptionally consistent. Struggles early and acclimates! I don't think yo yoing him will work.
  3. Platoon
    I didn't as much mean that Ryan would give him a spot in the rotation, as I meant Ryan would make the decision, no matter whether it be pen, rotation or DFA. That's way above Molly's pay grade.
  4. Platoon
    No one has mentioned that Mauer was the fortunate recipient of excellent timing. The Pohlads had used the "increased revenue keeps players" argument in getting public funding for TF. And along comes Joe! Hometown boy, big year of stats, and the very first opportunity for the team to pay up. I think the term is "The Perfect Storm"? Not many players get the chance to fill in the monetary blank on a contract themselves, but he did. If it would make anyone feel better, they could write off a percentage of the contract to goodwill, for that's what some of it was. He isn't going to be cut, he isn't going to be traded, he isn't going to renegotiate, and he isn't going to the bench! A discussion about his position in the batting order is valid. Anything else is futile.
  5. Platoon
    The Titanic? Or the Edmund Fitzgerald? Your choice! If you put Nolascoin in the BP, you have a 12M unhappy low level lomg reliever. Or for another $600,000 you could be getting a younger high velocity prospects feet (and arm) wet. Or suck it up and start him and hope for lightening? Or eat his salary? Not one decent option so far. I truly thought he might pitch well enough in ST to give the appearance of competence, so Ryan could save face, send Duffey down and figure out a way to trade Nolasco in June. He hasn't had the decency to do even that, painting Ryan into a very small corner. IF it was me, and IF I thought the team had a chance this year, I would either cut him, or dump him on someone and pick up part of his salary. Since that hasn't been a part of Ryans history to date, I imagine he still has a chance for the rotation, putting him in the pen is no different than cutting him. Might I add, that while you referred to Molitor deciding whether he wants to deal with Ricky any further, I promise you that this is one decision he will not make.
  6. Platoon
    An insecure Minnesotan? Never heard of such a thing! We just want to be liked, and never have anyone say anything negative about our state, our teams, or our Funeral Hotdish!
  7. Platoon
    Thanks. And I don't disagree with your thoughts. My concern is that the Twins will do what they usually do, not what many would consider sensible. Needless to say, I understand that it ain't my money, or my ego (Ryans) on the line. But they normally acquiesce to veterans, Duffey has options, and is complicating things by not pitching well so far. I also can't see them wanting an unhappy veteran in the pen, and your note from his agent is just the opening shot! They often take the path of least resistance, and if Nolasco is still able to crawl to the top of the mound, that might be the defining standard? And as much as I hate to say it, they may decide that they have to let him start, either he is at a minimal, satisfactory, or he flames out, leaving Nolasco with no arguement over his disposition.
  8. Platoon
    I can't speak to either of the above views. But they are really in a corner with Nolasco. Even if he would "accept" a mid reliever role, that's worth what per year. Meaning the difference is in essence a loss to the team. Molitor may have said that Duffey is penciled in, but it may have been a message to Ryan. It's been done before. But the fact is that managers have virtually no say in the 25 man roster. Those decisions are made in the front office, and there is no way talent is the number one criteria considered. I have said all winter that there is no way Ricky doesn't go north as a SP. for him to not do so, would retire Ryan to deviate from one or more long time practices. In this case I don't see it happening!
  9. Platoon
    I don't see a way out of the Nolasco mess. If he pitches well even just two more outings, he ends up in the rotation. Then if he is even mediocre he stays. They can't trade that contract, at least for months, they won't eat the salary, and they are not putting him in the pen. I do hope Duffey is looking for a place to live in Rochester.
  10. Platoon
    In a way, what the FO does with Nolasco will be an indicator on whether it's business as usual. If he is in the rotation solely based on his veteran contract status, that's not a good sign. Signing him just didn't work out, sometimes you just have to bite the bullet, and move on!
  11. Platoon
    This truly could be one of the great Jekyll and Hyde teams of all time. The big winners might be those ho like to comment on the team! There isn't going to be a shortage of topics!
  12. Platoon
    If you put homerism, sugar coating and BS aside, team statistics generally reflect the operating philosophies of the management. (FO + Field Staff). The Twins for as long as I can remember have concentrated on reducing BB vs SO's. And it's still reflected in last years numbers. Some will say this is changing. And while I don't disagree, as they say, "the proof is in the pudding"! They dabbled with Tonkin and Meyer last year. And while neither were at all blameless, the hook was for them applied far faster than it has been with struggling PTC style relievers. I sincerely think the Twins know that BP structure has evolved. They would have to be sound asleep not too. But as SO rates go up, so do BB rates. This season will tell if the Twins can stomach the latter, to get to the former!
  13. Platoon
    We were to the Yankees what the Detroit Lions were to Buds Vikings. Btw Mike, of course there's luck in cribbage! But I always thought it was a game that required a little more skill than others. I also think it tends to be a defensive game. Unless all hope is lost, I never thought bold play was a winning strategy. All that aside, your wife winning 90% of the time might be far better than her losing 90% of the time.
  14. Platoon
    In the last two days the Trib has carried 3 or 4 pieces trying to comfort the afflicted that the "Sano Experiment" will succeed. They even made some comparisons: Killebrew to LF, Carew to 1B etc. the only relative comp was Cuddyer to RF, and that included the notation that it took a couple years for the transition to "succeed"! But by far my favorite was including Plouffes adventures out on the grass. Not exactly a calming effect for me. And to show they were desperate for examples they included Puckett from CF to RF.
  15. Platoon
    The question is: Does Willmar State College? I would have sworn JC was a two yr program?
  16. Platoon
    I don't think the issue with Sano, for me at least,is playing RF as much as it is with the way it came about. Up until November the path was constant, even the DH, some third, hurt, and no third, stint last year made sense. Then remarkably they decided he could not replace Plouffe, and magically becomes a RF? It's either a case of an extreme lack of foresight and planning, or the Twins suddenly found out that third baseman have become worthless on the trade market. And as for the idea that 1B is his eventual home, that could be. But it's not as if we don't have enough of a log jam there also. On one other point, why is Burdi drinking around with a splitter. A notoriously hard pitch on elbows?
  17. Platoon
    SS size alert. But with Florimon in 2013 the Twins led the majors in turning DP. Easily. In 2014 we were just alight below avg, and in 2015 just slightly above avg. More than just the SS goes into that stat, but it's not necessarily a coincidence that Pedro was the SS when we led the league. I prefer great defense up the middle to offense. On a team still participating in the PTC league it's even more important. EE is a nice solid average player. A team of them will have a nice solid average season. Sooner or later we need to upgrade a bunch of positions above that level. And SS is one.
  18. Platoon
    The Twins are risk adverse to a fault, nothing ventured nothing lost! Speaking of least resistance, LEN III says today that speaking to Twins officials it's obvious Suzuki will play over 100 games? We traded Hicks for a 50 game backup? IF that's the case, it would change my somewhat neutral position on the trade to WTF! Time will tell.
  19. Platoon
    Major league sports are inherently cyclical. The inverse order of the draft allows poor teams to replenish the rosters. See, Twins, Cubs, Astros for examples. By most accounts these three teams had top tier MiLB systems. The question is what will each do with their bonanza? Is the Twins Way broken? There are a lot of mitigating factors involved. Market size, fan patience, structure and mindset of the parental corporation, the owners personality, the GM competence, and the GM personality. I have been, and still am a frequent critic of Ryans passitivity and aversion to risk. But he does not operate in a vacuum. He has corporate masters to please, and these are the discussions that truly do occur out of the public eye, far above the decision of who's on third! While the Twins are a more public face of the Pohlads than many of their other entities, it's inconceivable they have separate business models just for the Twins. Low risk, solid reward, day after day! It's another line item on the financial report. I think Bill Smith found this out quite quickly. If bad trades were the only criteria for his demotion, Ryan could also be gone. Ownership personalities and goals have an enormous impact. Ask the Cubs, and the Tigers. Successful? Not always. But it's always there!
  20. Platoon
    Or you could be a pragmatist, and come to the conclusion that since you aren't in the room you have an opinion based on what's outside the room! For example W/L records? Or if you want to do deeper, offering big money to a moderate NL pitcher when you have NO chance of winning anything? As for the Donald, if I wanted to read about him, I would go to a real news site, like Fox! . In closing, remember that people who are, shall we say, "pro TR" aren't in the room either! :). That said, there's nothing wrong with witty reparte!
  21. Platoon
    I for one do not disrespect Ryan, he is a baseball lifer! But the results for his tenure do in no way indicate he is a successful GM when using W/L as a criteria. If you use the "successful business model" as a criteria, he is a raving genius. I guess it's in the eye of the beholder. If you view the team as a sports entity whose goal is to win games, and build a consistent talent pool, or if you want it to be run like one of the Pohlads car dealerships. Either or, it's a signifantly different mindset!
  22. Platoon
    You can be an excellent scout, and even listen to the stats guys. But that doesn't make you a good, or bad GM. I really believe Ryan knows a ball player when he sees one. But do you adjust your evaluations to the game and your needs. Ryan is very late to the game with power arms. And when the game was being played with big bats and lots of HR's we were the Piranhas! And now that it's switched to pitching and elite defense we are the next '27 Yankees! I wore my powder blue leisure suit to work today. I am either behind the times, or a trend setter. Whether he actually is a excellent scout, or a great GM, the bottom line is the results do not support that. I am very glad he didn't trade youth, or lock into long term contracts with a FA this year. But I am not sure if this was by design, or simply the function of a broken clock being right twice a day!
  23. Platoon
    Thank you. You did an excellent job of putting into words some of the things I have been thinking. There was a good article the other day comparing KBO hitting stats MLB stats. Also a comparison of Park and Kang. It correctly pointed out that Kang is a much different style of hitter than Park, and the adjustment might be easier for a higher contact guy. I am not one of the ABW guys, yelling his name from every rooftop, and have seen neither him nor Park play in person. But statically they seem somewhat similar. And Walker is far younger and much cheaper, and allowed the Twinss far more flexibility roster wise. While this roster is seemingly set, it's also has a lot of intermingled pieces. You won't get to just move one, without moving a couple others. If Suzuki starts behind the plate, and Buxton ends up in Rochester, this has the potential to be a god awful defense baseball team with what is still a PTC staff!
  24. Platoon
    I tend to agree with you. I am not a huge free agent guy, and even if I was, it would never work with this FO. Why? Because it's not there operating platform. And to go out willy nilly and buy a guy here and there is not going to work. It's an all the time process. This FO prefers to develop talent, and I agree. My differences with them is their apparent acceptance of mediocre veterans over high upsid youth. It often takes and injury to get rid of a middling vet, and heaven forbid that they would ever trade one when his value is at its peak! I think they know talent, but seem to relish the security and comfort a veteran provides, vs the potential for upside, and yes downside a younger player provides. This will play out in Nolasco v Duffey this spring, and in the BP!
  25. Platoon
    I never thought I would see Arcia look "small".
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