Squirrel

I agree he has to earn it, but I think you start this year. Get his feet wet, get him that taste. Get him some time during a season that is likely going nowhere and let him see where he needs to get to. And if he’s not ready, you know it and have a better idea if his timeline and can deal with it in the off season with a one or two year contract with someone else. This need to protect his service time I’m not sure is necessary because I think our window will be up before then.

On this we agree. If we had to choose between Esco and Dozier, I choose Esco.

We’ve already got TWO AAAA players in Petit and Adrianza playing, and Dozier who is doing nothing, in a season that is looking less and less likely. It’s time (or will be soon) to get Gordon in there to get his feet wet THIS season so he’s not completely green when he starts next year as Dozier will most probably be gone. I’m not suggesting this because I think Gordon is some savior for the team ... I don’t think ANYONE is saying this, actually, except you ... I’m saying this because I think it’s time and I think it’s the way to move forward to give us the best option long term and I’d like to see what he can do instead of Petit, at this point. I was fine with Petit in the beginning, but I think it’s time to change it up to give Gordon a trial. If he is completely overmatched in in whatever opportunity we give him this year, then we know we have to make some plans this off season, such as offer Dozier a QO or making sure Esco is re-signed or looking for someone else for a year or two. Granted, nothing and no one are guarantees, but this never playing the young players is a way to never see what you have until it’s too late.

Then why have young players at all? I don't think it's practical to field an entire team of established veterans; you have to let the young kids at it at some point, sink or swim. There's no way to guarantee anything, but the only way to know for certain is to bring them up and let them at it. I'd probably think differently if the Twins were winning and doing well, but they aren't. This is the opportunity to see what we have coming up in order to make decisions in the off season. Look at Dozier this year? I actually think his presence on the field is actually hurting the team, unless he can get it together ... and even though he's had these major highs and lows in the past is no guarantee he'll get past it this year. There just is no way to guarantee play. Even signing or re-signing a veteran is no guarantee, either. At this point I would consider both Sano and Polanco established players ... maybe not 'veterany' but I think they are established as players on the team. And I'd really like them to re-sign Escobar. At this point I think he brings more 'veteran-ness' than Dozier in a lot of ways ... not only his play on the field, but the kind of guy he is off the field, too. If they take on Morrison's option, then he's another established player. With Mauer and Dozier gone next year, I think they have the option of finding a good mix that brings us more in the long run, than keeping Dozier and/or Mauer. Don't get me wrong, I've always liked Dozier, but I'm not sure keeping him will be a good decision ... unless they know that Gordon can't do it. Then you always have Escobar, whom I like better over all anyway. <shrug> There are no guarantees and we can only guess what right or wrong was in hindsight, but that's my thought on it.

I really disagree. There is a jump to be made from AAA to major leagues and some get stuck in the AAAA category. I think there have been 'can't miss' prospects who have missed, and 'so so' prospects who didn't. Prospects, until they are major leaguers are still a crap shoot, to some extent. While I think they do have an idea of what they have in Gordon, I still want him up and getting his feet wet before we decide on Dozier. I want to see how he makes the transition. I don't want to find out next year, after we've let Dozier and/or Escobar walk, that Gordon can't make that final jump or needs a year to adjust. Get him up now so we know how to proceed in the off season. Again ... I think we can wait a month ... but I think he needs to be up before September call ups.

I think Gordon needs to be up and playing not to save us but to find out if we need a back up plan for next year and what kind. I don’t want to let Dozier go and then find out what we have is inadequate. That’s how we get burned because we wait too long to find out what we have doesn’t cut it. I want Gordon up getting his feet wet and getting major league experience so he knows what will be expected and what to work on this off season and so we can find out if he’ll be adequate as either a starter or a back up. We don’t know either right now. And how is our established veteran Dozier doing so far this year? This season isn’t lost ... yet ... but I want Gordon up and getting reps as soon as it is so we have an idea of what we need to do this off season ... re-sign Dozier or let him walk.

Time to bring up Gordon and give Dozier some more rest.

It doesn’t count if you are padding the result to benefit your guess.

I'm keeping my hopes in check for now. Of course, anything's possible ... but will it be? For now I'm just going to try and stay neutral. It's just easier that way.

This topic is now closed. All it’s become is a ‘Is Joe lying or not?’ discussion which is completely out of bounds. And now someone hints at steroid use? Come on, people. I’m not saying everyone has to like or dislike Joe, but we are going well out of bounds here, which is typical for any topic that is directly or indirectly about Mauer, thanks to a one-trick pony troll.

Um, okay. And who do you propose to fill all those positions if you cut them all?

You can’t bat the whole team lower. I think Dozier and LaMarre should be swapped in tonight’s order. And play Sano 7th until he shows he’s improving.

Well, ****. I’m so tire of this team.

You are both now entering territory of discussing each other's posting styles and agendas. Stop. And if you can't discuss Mauer without claiming he's somehow being dishonest, because you've already concluded that he is and are cherry picking quotes out of context to support your own end, don't post. If you want a genuine discussion, fine, post. But this innuendo, pet topic posting is a no go on TD.

Jerry Maren, the last Munchkin in The Wizard of Oz, died the other day. He was a member of the Lollipop Guild.

Lol ... what are the odds of that? Awesome indeed!

Not quite as fin as when my Hawks won, but congrats.

Nice report, goulik.

Really wish I lived closer ... looks like fun.

Takes one to know one

You have a 2 1/2 hr lunch hour?

It was my way of saying that maybe they are where they are and we are where are is because of the manager. We SHOULDN’T be trailing, yet we are.

And man ... Esco is a Sox killer. He's the one we should think about extending.

I wonder what would happen if Molitor would switch Dozier and LaMarre in the batting order?

I was pretty clear when I said ... he is not without partners in blame ... but he is where it starts, imo.