Squirrel

It’s not like we don’t have 15-16 pitchers at this point.

And can we please stop with the opener idea? It’s DUMB! If you don’t have starters that can get through the lineup a 3rd time, maybe they shouldn’t be starters.

Three words for this: DIS GUST ING

And that’s not the first time Molitor has done that this season.

The Rangers broadcasters don’t seem a fan of the concept. Basically saying that it send ps the wrong message ... that you aren’t good enough to get through a lineup 3 times. Well, I’m out. This game is gonna suck and I can’t take it and won’t spew on the game thread over it.

I heard an interview of Nick Anderson and he talked about the opener concept. He didn’t quite say it directly, but he seemed not a fan of it, saying that it’s a different mindset to adjust to open the game.

Have you ever had a broken toe? And the big toe at that? It’s painful and debilitating. I’m not saying the FO is all to blame for Buxton’s season, but they had a hand in it, forcing his turn before he was fully healthy, but resulted in a worse situation, And now do this on top of it for their gain at Buxton’s expense. Look, I’ve said before, many times now but posters seem to want to only mention one aspect of my comments to suit their own rebuttal ... if Buxton wasn’t capable or ready to come north, that would be one thing. But that service time manipulation seems to be a primary consideration, not his well being, I have issues with that, especially since they had a hand in his lost season to begin with.

Or, you could also say the FO’s handling of pushing him back to the lineup before his broken toe was fully healed, also had a part in his missed season. They bungled his handling and now he pays an even bigger price for it by them manipulating his service time. I’m glad Falvey mentions ‘making amends’ because as well as Buxton himself, they also had a hand in this, perhaps a bigger hand, but are the only ones reaping the rewards at Buxton’s expense.

Don’t forget Duke, Rodney and Lynn. And they picked up Cave, too. I don’t think it’s really fair to say their spending last off season was unwise; only in hindsight based on results. While I get that results are the end game, most of us were enthused with what was done in the off season. I gave that a pretty high grade, actually. I don’t think it was spending just to spend. If you call the spending that was done unwise, then I think you have to call not spending to outbid the Cubs on Darvish wise.

Bob had some comments about him here that you might find interesting: http://twinsdaily.com/topic/28933-andrew-vasquez-2018/?p=790559

Ramos?

Other than Romero, none of those are on the 40-man. Doubtful they make that many moves to call up people. Doubt we see Vargas, Gordon or Wade. We’ll see in the others.

'The stars at night ... are big and bright ... <clap, clap, clap, clap> ... deep in the heart of Texas ...' They sing this at the 7th inning stretch in Texas. Let's hope the stars are shining big and bright tonight ... for the Twins! They could ... the clouds will be minimal. Hoping for a bounce back for Berrios tonight. Lineups: TWINS 1. Joe Mauer (L) 1B 2. Logan Forsythe (R ) 2B 3. Jorge Polanco (S) SS 4. Miguel Sano (R ) 3B 5. Max Kepler (L) RF 6. Mitch Garver (R ) C 7. Jake Cave (L) CF 8. Tyler Austin (R ) DH 9. Robbie Grossman (S) LF José Berríos (R ) P RANGERS 1. Shin-Soo Choo (L) LF 2. Rougned Odor (L) 2B 3. Elvis Andrus (R ) SS 4. Nomar Mazara (L) RF 5. Adrian Beltre (R ) DH 6. Jurickson Profar (S) 3B 7. Joey Gallo (L) CF 8. Ronald Guzman (L) 1B 9. Isiah Kiner-Falefa (R ) C Yovani Gallardo (R ) P

That's what I thought. Even more funny that the guy I talk baseball with at the gym (huge Cubs fan) said that Gimenez screwed up Darvish ... still find that so odd.

Yep ... this is the part of the job that earned them a bad grade from me. Can't know yet what the trades and drafts will yield, though, so ... who knows. But this? Yeah ... why?

I thought I had read he was sent down ... but now I'm not sure. I think he was on their active roster.

lol ... I just got through asking the same thing to myself

I don't know ... was he still on the active roster in Chicago?

Heh, true that ... and no one can no for sure what's what ... so it's all moot and we should delete this thread of opposing opinions.

Again, then, you didn't read the complaint. I have no issues with him not being called up due to health and performance issues. I just don't think service time manipulation should be the only or primary reason to not call him up. That alone is my point.

Lol, well ... not sure I can argue that logic. But ... when it comes to cookie baking, I'm pretty serious, and I wouldn't want to win in an ethically questionable way.

And that is the issue, and should be the only issue, imo. I may not agree with him not being called up, but I understand if there are questions on whether or not he's ready -- physically, mentally, developmentally. If you are reading about Buxton still having health/wellness issues, then no, he stays put and goes home to get healthy and get ready for next season.

Brian, you and I are never going to agree. I think there is an ethical conundrum here. You don't. You're fine with it. I'm not. Yes, it's the way it is and we have to live with it. I just don't believe in maximizing profits at the cost of labor, even if that labor force is a bunch of millionaires. But I find cheering for it and hoping for it, well, wrong, from a human being standpoint. And I understand the frustration of wanting the year back, but this is the thing with prospects becoming 'sure thing' MLB stars ... it's not a sure thing and it's not guaranteed. I still don't agree with 'taking it out' on him because that's how I see some of the comments that have been made. That said, I don't have one single issue with him not being promoted because they think that he needs to work at it, is not ready, and it's better for him, his career and his development, to not bring him up. I don't necessarily agree with that decision, but that I understand. But I don't agree and will never agree, that not bringing him up for the sole purpose of ... let me repeat that ... for the sole purpose of manipulating service time. That that happens, that that's the 'gain' for making the decision to keep him down for development purposes? Okay, that's what it is and that I don't have issues with that but I don't think it should be a consideration. But so many have put the service time issue as primary, and that I don't agree with. Service time manipulation isn't what's best for anyone's development, imo. I just think it's ethically questionable to maximize profits at the cost of labor ... even if that labor makes more than I'd even have a clue what to do with. Management is taking advantage of a loophole. Yeah ... many would. Still doesn't make it something that isn't questionable. Feel free to keep debating ... but you're debating to a wall on this one. Enjoy!

If he’s not the best player right now, that I get. That’s a baseball decision and has nothing to do with service time. It wouldn’t be the decision I’d have made, but I still get that and that would be a decision I’d understand and think is fair even though I disagree. But, as I said, if your decision is based solely on service time, if that’s your only reason to hold him back, I think it’s questionable ethics. I know other teams do it, but that still doesn’t make it right. It might be technically ‘right’ according to the letter of the contract, but not to the spirit of it. I find the practice ethically questionable.

Not surprising the first call ups are relief pitchers.