as an addendum, this stat just scared the heck out of me when it comes to this FO trying to manage a team.  Gallo is teh SEVENTH!!!!!!  LH hitting OF on the 40 man roster!!!  nto 7th LH TOTAL.... 7th OUTFIELDER!!!

I hope the Pohlads see this and decide that 1 more year with this FO to produce a winning team will be the last chance they can fail on. Another losing season and fire the entire management staff from Falvey down to all the coaches. I hope I'm wrong and somehow this team proves it can win, but I don't have much faith in that happening.

I say true all that. I think this F.O. must go. but the reality is....Joe Pohlad isnt going to make that move until he sees firsthand what happens to the boys in a men's world. At least for one season.  I find it interesting how we keep hearing them say that they need a rh bat so badly. Whats the logic there? I saw things change due to injuries last year, but let's be real here. They need a front line ss. They need a #1 starter. They needed another catcher. And the bullpen is at least average if Alcala comes back and one of the left over starters slots in at long relief. 

Joey Gallo is a good ballplayer. it wasn't that long ago that I am sure he won a gold  glove for the Rangers. in my opinion, why did they need another rh bat anyway? They already have Vasquez, Jeffers, Miranda, Farmer, Buxton, and Celestino, Garlick and Polanco as a switch hitter.

Signing Gallo wasn't necessarily a bad move, with him, Buxton, and maybe Kepler, that is a world class defensive outfield. Does it open the door for some trades. Yes I'm sure, but let's not be that quick to judge Gallo.

"Where does Gallo play? RF is his best position.  but we have Kepler.  He could be DH, but didnt we want to get away from having a primary DH? "

Gallo moved to LF when he joined the Yankees and remained there with the Dodgers - for reasons that are probably pretty obvious in both cases.   It's not like he's inexperienced and we're pushing him out of some comfort zone.  I don't expect Kepler (if he stays) to get bumped to LF, so Gallo surely knows the possibility he'll see time there at minimum, by signing the contract.

"batting average is not the biggest thing, but making contact and getting on base is!! "

His .160 BA this year is impossible to defend and the FO surely thinks there is reason to expect him to come back to his career norms. But the guy walks a ton, so that his on-base percentage is routinely more than .100 points above his BA, and that OBP is actually above league average.  His career OBP, bad BA and all, is also (slightly) above Kepler's career log.  Walks aren't as good as singles, but whatever else you say about the guy, he gets on base.

I think his game, which consists of strikeouts and walks and homers, leads to boring baseball unless he's the only such slugger in the lineup.  I think it's a big gamble that he does bounce back.  He seems redundant to this roster rather than addressing a need.  $11M for a guy who needs a "prove it" year seems way high.  For all these reasons I'm less than lukewarm about signing him.  But as Yogi said, in baseball, you don't know nothin'.  Maybe it'll work out.

"solid, coherent defense that says this signing is anything but horrid. "

Maybe it'll work out... is the best I can do.

On 12/17/2022 at 12:33 PM, ashbury said:

"Where does Gallo play? RF is his best position.  but we have Kepler.  He could be DH, but didnt we want to get away from having a primary DH? "

Gallo moved to LF when he joined the Yankees and remained there with the Dodgers - for reasons that are probably pretty obvious in both cases.   It's not like he's inexperienced and we're pushing him out of some comfort zone.  I don't expect Kepler (if he stays) to get bumped to LF, so Gallo surely knows the possibility he'll see time there at minimum, by signing the contract.

"batting average is not the biggest thing, but making contact and getting on base is!! "

His .160 BA this year is impossible to defend and the FO surely thinks there is reason to expect him to come back to his career norms. But the guy walks a ton, so that his on-base percentage is routinely more than .100 points above his BA, and that OBP is actually above league average.  His career OBP, bad BA and all, is also (slightly) above Kepler's career log.  Walks aren't as good as singles, but whatever else you say about the guy, he gets on base.

I think his game, which consists of strikeouts and walks and homers, leads to boring baseball unless he's the only such slugger in the lineup.  I think it's a big gamble that he does bounce back.  He seems redundant to this roster rather than addressing a need.  $11M for a guy who needs a "prove it" year seems way high.  For all these reasons I'm less than lukewarm about signing him.  But as Yogi said, in baseball, you don't know nothin'.  Maybe it'll work out.

"solid, coherent defense that says this signing is anything but horrid. "

Maybe it'll work out... is the best I can do.

Tough to justify Gallo for sure……particularly since we did nothing to strengthen the Pitching Staff. Was really pissed when it was announced!! However, I was upbeat that Kepler may bounce back so I guess have to give Gallo benefit of the doubt. If he starts 130 games, bats 9th, hits .215, & hits 25 HR’s we’ll live with that.

I guess FO was just tired of Max’s lack of punch and recent lack of availability. They chose Gallo at .030 points lower BA and 15 more homers??.

HAVE to assume FO is working on moving Kepler with another piece or two for a starter.

I saw someone picking at Gallo’s health in another comment,…….he was under 100 games in 2019 but played 57 in 2020 when league total was around 65 games played. Fine in ‘21 & ‘22. Seems as or more reliable than Max.

“Maybe” is all we got with Gallo……and about 8 other guys?.

I see the shift ban definitely will help Kepler but Gallo not so much, his problem is SOs. Pitchers have adjusted to hitters like Sano & Gallo, so I don't see much chance for them to return to any relevancy. But you throw out that Gallo could hit 40 HRs this FO goes crazy & lose any sense of reality, especially with the Levine contact. I wish Levine could use his contact with CO to land Marquez, a potential front line SP which we can use, not another corner OF/ 1B/ DH lefty bat.

What really scares me that this FO will use Gallo at CF, where he doesn't belong to squeeze out Gordon who belongs there. Then put Gordon in the INF where doesn't belong, to prevent us from getting someone who can play there.

When I saw this move, I felt like I was Curly in this photo....Thad Levine and Derek Falvey are the ones pulling my ears...