Brian Dozier Is Not Ready

[TheLeviathan]

In a more extreme sense, why not bring Buxton up to the MLB because this season is lost? No, because he is not ready and hasn't ascended the steps a minor league system has in place properly.

Just make sure if you ask him about his work in the minor leagues that he hasn't been enticed with grape soda, butter-knife steaks, or deep-friend stuff on a stick. Because, in that case, even direct quotes are nothing but delicious lies.

 

But thank you for injecting a little more common sense into the argument. The Twins should do whats right for Dozier first - whatever that is. The status of the team isn't a free pass to just shove guys on to the field no matter their readiness.

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

Uncle... You are right!!!

 

Brunansky obviously fixed him and his one month in AAA hitting nothing but singles like he had done consistently before... year after year set him on the path to glory. That month in AAA was obviously the tonic needed to save him from the terrible slump of hitting .278 in 18 at bats in April.

 

Just because a player has hit .300 throughout his minors career, doesn't mean they will automatically hit .300 when they reach the majors. I agree Brunansky didn't do anything for Revere and he should have been on the opening day roster. Brunansky may not do anything for Dozier either, but at least give him some reasonable competition to fare against. Again, I don't like Revere and Dozier being compared because Revere is an athletic freak and a first round pick.

 

I'll also never understand why many people love Dozier's defense so much. It's not acceptable to have a consistent E6 on the box.

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

Just make sure if you ask him about his work in the minor leagues that he hasn't been enticed with grape soda, butter-knife steaks, or deep-friend stuff on a stick. Because, in that case, even direct quotes are nothing but delicious lies.

 

But thank you for injecting a little more common sense into the argument. The Twins should do whats right for Dozier first - whatever that is. The status of the team isn't a free pass to just shove guys on to the field no matter their readiness.

No thank you. I have enjoyed your previous posts for the most part.

[TheLeviathan]

The Revere comp was merely to suggest that it isn't the end of the world to send someone down. Sometimes they come back up better prepared. There are literally hundreds of examples of this, I just picked a hitter they did that with this year. Even if the send-down did nothing for Revere - it's still an option that isn't going to kill Dozier to try.

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

Parmelee may have been a decent comparison because he too hasn't done anything at the AAA level. I say 'may' because the Twins don't play him and we don't have any clue how/if anything is different.

[TheLeviathan]

Parmelee may have been a decent comparison because he too hasn't done anything at the AAA level. I say 'may' because the Twins don't play him and we don't have any clue how/if anything is different.

Let's hope he's sent down soon - I think most Twins fans agree about the lack of logic keeping him up. That's the organization's biggest issue - depth at the top. Dozier is going to have his chance at this spot for quite some time, no one is going to come pushing from the minors anytime soon. There is no rush to audition him now, no future auditions have any chance for quite some time.

 

Liam Hendricks would've worked too, just Revere popped to mind.

[Riverbrian]

the send-down did nothing for Revere

Now was that so hard. I agree completely. Very well said.

 

BTW... It's close to dinner time... I'm hungry and a Butter-Knife steak and Grape Soda sounds fantastic!!!

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

Gentlemen, gentlemen. Why argue amongst one another on a recreation excessively barbaric as baseball? We truly are subjecting to complete baffoonery and I must inquire we move on to something classy like the fine young chaps we are. Now what say we gather ourselves and converse on the finer points of backgammon over kippers and crumpets instead?

[denarded]

don't listen to these dolts. They were better off in their own corner of the blogoshphere. I know everything can't be hunky-dory for every moment of a season, but this is sort of silly...

[Badsmerf]

don't listen to these dolts. They were better off in their own corner of the blogoshphere. I know everything can't be hunky-dory for every moment of a season, but this is sort of silly...

What is silly about it? Arguing whether the closest possible regular the Twins have at SS in the organization is going to benefit from being sent to AAA or left in the MLB to figure it out? I don't find that silly. Especially given the comparisons to different examples and the invalidity they pose in relation to this particular circumstance (because each is different). I think its a perfectly valid argument and interesting to see developmental philosophies at work.

 

If you are referring to the "new" posters as dolts, you might want to wait for that. If you think anyone of us is less of a fan because things aren't hunky-dory you have it wrong. We come here to talk baseball because we are passionate about it. If you aren't upset that this team is terrible and was terrible last year there is something drastically wrong with your thinking. I want this team to get better, hopefully so does everyone else. What you might consider bitching might actually be a valid point that suggests something needs to change.

[CDog]

there is something drastically wrong with your thinking.

Why can't someone else think a different way than you without it being drastically wrong? I found this especially strange since the rest of the post this came from was basically saying the complete opposite.

[Guest USAFChief]

Why can't someone else think a different way than you without it being drastically wrong?

Oh, the irony.

[Cody Christie]

I'm fine with leaving Dozier at shortstop and seeing what he can do for the rest of the season. The Twins are not close to being in contention so why not let him play? At the end of the season, the Twins can look back on the season and decide if a change needs to be made. For now, let him take his lumps and hopefully a few minor adjustments will make his second half look better than the first.

[CDog]

Oh, the irony.

Just let the game come to you. You're pressing. Trying a little too hard. Understandable, though.

[kab21]

Bruno = the new miracle worker

[Badsmerf]

Why can't someone else think a different way than you without it being drastically wrong? I found this especially strange since the rest of the post this came from was basically saying the complete opposite.

It is my belief most people like winning. Guess in the case of Twins fans its good enough if they can compete?

[CDog]

It is my belief most people like winning. Guess in the case of Twins fans its good enough if they can compete?

That's just a big leap, if you ask me. Why can't some people understand a down year or even two or even more, while still wanting and hoping for better? What makes that "drastically wrong?" Or enjoying the little things that happen day in and day out even on a bad team without being upset about too many losses? Or even just liking baseball so much that it's a treat just to go out to the ballpark, watch elite athletes compete at a wonderful and historic game, pulling for one team to win (because they're the home squad or you like their uniforms or have your favorite player) and not getting upset if they don't happen to win even while you hope they do?

[Badsmerf]

Dude, this a message board. We talk about all things. There are plenty of positive topics like Plouffe and Revere. Unfortunately, right now there are a lot of things to argue about on ways to get better. Got to take it both ways brother.

[CDog]

Dude, this a message board. We talk about all things. There are plenty of positive topics like Plouffe and Revere. Unfortunately, right now there are a lot of things to argue about on ways to get better. Got to take it both ways brother.

Of course there are. The leap to "drastically wrong" for people that don't follow the team in the same way or react as you might that was my point.

[TheLeviathan]

The Twins are not close to being in contention so why not let him play?.

Again, why not say the same for Sano? Arcia? "Fill-in-name-of-other-minor-league-guy"?

 

Yes, Dozier is 25, but he also basically skipped AAA. There is no one in the system coming up anytime soon. He'll have this chance to audition for at least the 2013 season. Why do we feel the need to keep him up even when he's scuffling badly?

 

At what depths of offensive and defensive play do you stop this line of thinking? I'm genuinely curious. He's sub-.600 OPS now for well over a month. He's committing errors at a rate higher than anyone else in the AL. He's had 2 XBH in the last 3 weeks.

 

I still think he can be part of this team's future. We have to look at what's best for Dozier and drop this nonsense about the team's play. The team's play, because it is so bad right now, is totally irrelevant. It isn't a valid justification. I've yet to hear anyone make a solid case for why he should continue to take a beating at this level when we aren't seeing progress.

[Paul]

... I've yet to hear anyone make a solid case for why he should continue to take a beating at this level when we aren't seeing progress.

 

This is my case:

 

The minors obviously exist for a reason. The gradient aproach works great for any kind of education. But students successfully skipping grades is not unheard of either. To oversimplify, in baseball the higher the grade the faster the game is. Also the higher you go the greater the weight psychology has in the equation of success. Sometimes what a viewer sees as a "beating" is just part of the process. Sometimes the fact that "we aren't seeing progress" doesn't mean it's not occurring. Gardenhire has the final say in this kids education. And just maybe he knows what he's doing. (Somehow he's convinced a lot of people he does.) He determines where the kid is going to play. He's there observing every day. He sees what you and I see on the field. And a whole lot more in the dugout, in practice, in the clubhouse, and on the road, that we don't see, but nevertheless informs him. I don't know but, perhaps he feels the speed of the game is not the issue. Maybe some kids need more of a "beating" than others to feel they belong. Maybe Gardy feels the "beating" is not something he can even get in AAA. Whatever Gardenhire feels, rest assured he has talked to Brian. And Brian knows the program.

[TheLeviathan]

Whatever Gardenhire feels, rest assured he has talked to Brian. And Brian knows the program.

That's a valid point of view - I would disagree, but I would accept it as valid. The only thing I would caution is that we're putting the development of this guy in the hands of Gardy who was trained by TK and who has taken a very different approach with similar players - notably Bartlett.

[DPJ]

Dozier running hard about the box on that spinning ball play earned him atleast another 3 weeks in the majors even if he continues to show nothing in the field or at the plate.

[Dilligaf69]

dozier is 25. He shouldn't need to develop in the minors anymore. Leave him in there for the rest of the year, let him try to figure things out, and if he can't then go a different direction in 2013. The alternative at this point is going back to alexi casilla, who in addition to being almost equally bad has no future with the organization.

 

bingo!

[Dilligaf69]

You people are amazing... Before they called Dozier up, everyone was upset, because he wasn't being called up, now everyone is complaining and saying he needs to be sent down... Dozier belongs with the Twins... He's a smart kid with a good mind for the game... This is where he needs to be to learn how to hit major league hitting... He's not going to learn that at Rochester.... And as is common with many rookies, he shows flashes of what his potential is, while other times he struggles.... By the end of the year I think he'll have settled in a will be playing more consistently, but it's a process... All of his growing pains this year will payoff next season...

 

Bingo x 2!!!!

[Top Gun]

Brian been red hot the past week just a tearing it up.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Yep, it's only fair to mention that Dozier has a 1.117 OPS over the past week. He looks like a different hitter.

[Guest USAFChief]

Again, why not say the same for Sano? Arcia? "Fill-in-name-of-other-minor-league-guy"?

 

Yes, Dozier is 25, but he also basically skipped AAA. There is no one in the system coming up anytime soon. He'll have this chance to audition for at least the 2013 season. Why do we feel the need to keep him up even when he's scuffling badly?

 

At what depths of offensive and defensive play do you stop this line of thinking? I'm genuinely curious. He's sub-.600 OPS now for well over a month. He's committing errors at a rate higher than anyone else in the AL. He's had 2 XBH in the last 3 weeks.

 

I still think he can be part of this team's future. We have to look at what's best for Dozier and drop this nonsense about the team's play. The team's play, because it is so bad right now, is totally irrelevant. It isn't a valid justification. I've yet to hear anyone make a solid case for why he should continue to take a beating at this level when we aren't seeing progress.

Well over a month? Well, there you have it. Proof positive.

 

It's also worth remembering that in this day and age AAA adds little over AA, other than more time in the minors. AAA is pretty much a taxi squad for the big league club these days. It's not unusual for players destined for the big leagues to spend little time in AAA.

 

Let the kid play. There's nothing to be learned in AAA that can't be learned in the big leagues. Either he develops, or he doesn't. It's not hurting the team in any meaningful way.

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

Yep, it's only fair to mention that Dozier has a 1.117 OPS over the past week. He looks like a different hitter.

 

It's just a week. If I do end up being wrong I'll take the heat, but I still think it would be to his benefit to get some AAA time.

[TheLeviathan]

It's also worth remembering that in this day and age AAA adds little over AA, other than more time in the minors. AAA is pretty much a taxi squad for the big league club these days. It's not unusual for players destined for the big leagues to spend little time in AAA.

 

This argument is fine, we would agree to disagree, but I find it at least a valid claim. Mind you, suggesting that he go down to AAA is not some revolutionary or absurd notion. It's done hundreds of times around the league every year. The last month has been a disaster for Dozier until this week. Maybe he's put it together, but there is nothing ridiculous about suggesting some non-pressurized time to refine the problems he's having might be a good thing. This however:

 

It's not hurting the team in any meaningful way.

 

Is a dumb argument. Who cares? We all agree the Twins aren't going anywhere with this pitching staff, the impact on the team is irrelevant. People keep saying this nonsense (then, seemingly, forgetting this logic with Hendricks) as if it is a valid argument. It's not. Do what's best for Dozier. If you think it's skipping AAA and being in the bigs...ok, that's cool. But "because, what the hell, it won't hurt the team right?" is nonsense. It's what I took issue with from day one.