Squirrel

This whole season I've found roster management frustrating ... both from the FO with call ups and moves and with the manager in his in-game management of the roster given him.

Yes, they are ... because it's the manager's decision who plays when, where, how. It's on him. And if he's not making those calls, why isn't he? It's his job! Giving deference to some players' 'needs' over others is not the way to manage.

I get that but what it all boils down to for me is the manager, how and when he uses certain players. How he manages the BP, the lineups, the players. It's not anyone's decision but his. Period. And if you are giving leeway to some players to make that call, that's on the manager and the FO for allowing it.

Heh, I’m sure Mientkiewics begrudgingly tipped his cap at that play. And perhaps Astudillo gets away with it because he’s not a veteran. It’s unexpected. Bet he never gets another hidden ball chance, but who knows?

Concur; especially with the latter. #MolitorNeedsToGo

Yep. #MolitorNeedsToGo

Yeah, and you aren't 30 yet ... you have no excuses like I do.

I'm old. I get confused easily. Being young at heart still doesn't help my mind.

Oh, why did I think Field was 31? Okay then ... I stand corrected. Thank you. But given his age, maybe Molitor won't play him, either.

And if this were a young guy, Molitor wouldn't play him anyway. But it's an older guy ... he'll be in the lineup today or tomorrow, is my guess.

Unfortunately, many of our wishes were not answered today ...

If I’ve said this once I’ve said it 20 times ... one of the reason Esco was one of my favorites. He worked hard and joyfully, and was happy to do so in any and every role he was given. If that’s not being the ultimate professional I don’t know what is.

Quit hoping for things, then, and maybe they’ll happen!

I actually wouldn’t be surprised if it were him, but who knows.

You should be all over these options, Brian. I mean ... positional flexibility!

But can they afford Machado, Grandal and Kershaw?

It’s probably not coming through because this is a Dozier thread, but there is plenty of disgust for the other players throughout this forum. I mean, how many threads have there been on Sano and Buxton, and how they are being written off as busts? How many game threads are there where posters have questioned why Morrison is still on the team, and all the comments about FRE? I mean Rodney has a special acronym and it’s not because he’s been great every time. Game threads have become unbearable more times than not because they have become a dumping ground for everyone’s complaints about the team and organization as a whole. And Molitor has certainly gotten his fair share of criticism, too, deservedly so, imo. And don’t get me started on all the threads and comments there are on Mauer that polarizes this site like no one and nothing else. So no one is isolating Dozier as the sole problem, but this is a thread about him so that’s why things seem more focused on him here but they really aren’t overall. Also, when you declare yourself the leader and say stuff to the press on behalf of your team about how disappointed you are in the FO for trading away players, I find that a bit ironic and it also tends to invite more focus. And since Dozier has been a player I’ve liked way more than others, it makes it worse for me. As I said, it hurts to see him gone, but as a fan, I’m mad at him, too. Since this is a Dozier thread, this is where I’ll express that but it doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of disappointment to go around.

Concur. I’m about at the end of my rope with this team. I worry, though, when the GM says there’s financial flexibility to be creative. To me ... creative ... isn’t about an obvious move (Machado). But ... can’t complain about what hasn’t happened yet. But I’ll be highly critical if it’s too far short of expectations.

I haven't heard anyone placing ALL the blame on him. What people are suggesting is THE PLAYERS THEMSELVES are at fault for where we are today, and Dozier is but one. And since he is the one who was calling out the FO for 'quitting' on them (my words, not his, but the gist was the same), people are going to come back with he didn't produce. I get how it sounds as if people are placing the blame on his shoulders, they aren't. But the are bumping back against his 'disappointment' in the FO when he (and the rest of the team) are to blame for the bad performance. And I say this as one who's always really liked Dozier. And it hurts to see him gone. But, as a fan, I'm mad at him, too.

This is really where I’m at with that trade. I think Esco was far more valuable to us than Dozier. So much so, they were never going to get what he’s worth to us. And I don’t say that just because Esco was my favorite. Well, maybe partly but not entirely. I’m really not sure what all to make of the Dozier trade. There certainly was stuff going on behind the scenes that we will probably never fully know the whole story so I’m not sure if the FO was ‘getting rid’ of him or he was ‘getting rid’ of us, likely some combination. It really seemed that this year Dozier had lost some of his passion, whether that was from the writing on the wall that he was not going to be re-signed, or conflicts in the clubhouse, or what. No idea on that. But it certainly seems like the FO made any deal they could and are done with it.

Wow.

I just started a new topic ... http://twinsdaily.com/topic/30840-who-fills-out-the-25-man-is-trevor-may-on-his-way-to-minnesota/

There's still a spot open. We currently have 12 pitchers, and Reed is one of them.

It's already been announced that Mejia will get Lynn's next start. I imagine that if he does well, he'll stay there, but who knows. But there is an open roster spot on the 25-man ... wonder when we'll hear who fills that? Maybe May comes up?

Tom, not sure where to ask this question, but who fills the open 25-man roster spot? (There is still one, yes? If I counted correctly.) With Mejia set to start in Lynn’s place I’d guess we won’t be seeing Gonsalves. What about May?