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Article: Game Thread Tigers@Twins 4/27 7:10PM

Riverbrian
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Circus Boy
Circus Boy

Some are born disappointing. Some achieve disappointment. Others have disappointment thrust upon them.

ashbury
ashbury

Takes 6 innings to determine a Quality Start, but we can sometimes tell a Bad Start by the second batter.

Richie the Rally Goat
Richie the Rally Goat

whats the point of a game thread, if not to stick your foot in your mouth?

Blake All-Star

Blake

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Ah, Escobar's pinch hitting appearance: the perfect example of small sample size versus larger sample size.

 

If I heard Dick and Bert correctly, Escobar is 2 for 3, now 2 for 4 against Chamberlain.

 

For the year, in, what, 30 PA's, Escobar is hitting a .150.

 

Ah, well, the Twins didn't roll over. And the Tigers looked a bit desperate.

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stringer bell MVP

stringer bell

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OK, I know "the book" says you play for a tie at home, but I don't like the idea of bunting Santana in the ninth.  First of all Schafer is a real threat to steal second by himself.  Secondly, if he doesn't go, it gives Santana a big hole to shoot through and Soria's attention would be divided between home and first.  I really would have liked to see both speedsters get on to start that inning.  Putting the game on the shoulders of Dozier and Hunter isn't really wise, since neither are hitting that red-hot this spring.

 

Regarding pinch-hitting Escobar, I think we should give him some credit for last year and a small amount for the way he hit in spring training.  In addition, Shane Robinson isn't a .350 hitter.  I haven't liked the way Escobar has been swinging since the season started and three or four ABs  isn't enough information to base a decision for pinch-hitting.

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Platoon Cedar Rapids Kernels

Platoon

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Regarding pinch hitting Escobar, what are your choices? Mauer is the only one that is hitting at all. Plouffe maybe? And they were both in the lineup. This is really not a good offensive team. Dozier has completely sold out on the inside pitch, and seems to be getting more and more frustrated. Virtually every young hitter in the orginisation is struggling. It's like it's a disease.

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USAFChief Cooperstown

USAFChief

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Yeah, that's the ticket: Escobar and his buck fifty average for Robinson and his defense. Oh, did I mention that Robinson is actually hitting?

 

Again with the lefty-righty matchup using someone who is not hitting. 

 

Not pinch hitting for Robinson could be easily explained. Pinch hitting Escobar for Robinson? Not as easily explained in my book.

I guess I'd have the opposite reaction. To rip off a great line..."Pinch hitter for Robinson? Great move Molitor! Who's the pinch hitter?"

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Blake All-Star

Blake

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OK, I know "the book" says you play for a tie at home, but I don't like the idea of bunting Santana in the ninth.  First of all Schafer is a real threat to steal second by himself.  Secondly, if he doesn't go, it gives Santana a big hole to shoot through and Soria's attention would be divided between home and first.  I really would have liked to see both speedsters get on to start that inning.  Putting the game on the shoulders of Dozier and Hunter isn't really wise, since neither are hitting that red-hot this spring.

 

Regarding pinch-hitting Escobar, I think we should give him some credit for last year and a small amount for the way he hit in spring training.  In addition, Shane Robinson isn't a .350 hitter.  I haven't liked the way Escobar has been swinging since the season started and three or four ABs  isn't enough information to base a decision for pinch-hitting.

This is one of my problems with the Moneyball approach to pinch hitting, etc. I think people like Molitor may get to caught up in Sabremetrics to the point of ignoring who is currently producing. Sabermetrics may be all well and good for long term trends but it isn't all about numbers. It is also about judgement. Sometimes, you have to play the cards you're dealt.

Edited by Blake
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Mike Sixel Cooperstown

Mike Sixel

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Ah, Escobar's pinch hitting appearance: the perfect example of small sample size versus larger sample size.

 

If I heard Dick and Bert correctly, Escobar is 2 for 3, now 2 for 4 against Chamberlain.

 

For the year, in, what, 30 PA's, Escobar is hitting a .150.

 

Ah, well, the Twins didn't roll over. And the Tigers looked a bit desperate.

 

Wait, you are complaining about small sample size, then saying 30 PAs this year is more relevant than their careers? I'm confused.

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stringer bell MVP

stringer bell

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Wait, you are complaining about small sample size, then saying 30 PAs this year is more relevant than their careers? I'm confused.

Exactly, Mike.  If you want to win the game against the setup guy, probably it would be best to go with a guy with power (Arcia, Vargas) even though they are scuffling.  The Twins had the catcher (slow runner) on first and two outs.  Escobar and the next guy (Schafer, now hitting .190) would most likely need to get hits to tie the game.  In summary, there weren't a lot of good options, but a home run hitter would have a slugger's chance of handing the ball to Perkins with a lead in the ninth.

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Blake All-Star

Blake

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Wait, you are complaining about small sample size, then saying 30 PAs this year is more relevant than their careers? I'm confused.

Dick and Bert made the point that Escobar was 2 for 3 against Chamberlain, which is 5 PA's. Small sample size compared to Escobars current lack of hitting. (30 PA's > 5 PA's)* Career numbers are all well and good however, at some point, the here and now needs to be factored in. I do not believe Molitor is doing a good job of balancing the here and now with long term player trends.

 

It's my opinion, nothing more. If managing a baseball team were easy, it would be a minimum wage job and anyone could do it, yours truly included.

 

 

*30 PA's is a WAG, I admit.

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