Article: DET 3, MIN 1: Lynn Overexposed, Offense Overmatched

[jun]

 

Cave getting demoted probably has more to do with him being the 5th OF and not "effort struggles". Also, his 162 OPS+ comes with a tiny sample size that he isn't going to continue. I think we'll understand the move more when a second player is brought up.  With Sano going down and Petit gone, they need another infielder. Probably Motter?

Petit just came back and I think Astudillo can play any position on the field except pitcher.

Edited June 14, 2018 by jun

[jorgenswest]

Astudillo might be that third catcher with some experience at 3B. Motter is on the 40. Gordon has the best future.

 

Which of those three backs up Adrianza and Escobar? Is there anyone else on the current roster that can play SS or 3B?

[yarnivek1972]

Wait a minute. It's not even quite half way through June. They are only 6 games back. If they sweep Cleveland in the next few games they will only be down by 3 games. The All Star break is in about a month. If things go well they could be a handful of games up and in first place.

 

I think Molitor has done fine with what he has. The players are the guys that have to preform well. If they don't play well no matter what Molitor does will improve their record.

 

Sano is still a young guy. There is plenty of time for him to be an All Star again. A little time in the minors will probably do him some good. It might be a confidence builder. He didn't come off his leg injury very well and it might have messed with his confidence

If the Twins get swept by Cleveland, they will be 9 back and 11 games under .500.

 

Did you see the Twins offense this week? Which do you think is more likely, sweeping Cleveland or getting swept by them?

 

There’s a fine line between optimism and blind homerism IMO.

[jun]

 

Is this real?!!

Yes it's real. That's where he deserves to be.

[NDTimIrish]

Well, we're not in Kansas anymore.

[Danchat]

 

Petit just came back and I think Astudillo can play any position on the field except pitcher.

You mean back to AAA, right? I don't see anywhere that they've re-added him to the team. 

I don't think Astudillo is going to be viewed as a utility infielder... I can't see him backing up 2B, SS, and 3B.

[Broker]

 

If the Twins get swept by Cleveland, they will be 9 back and 11 games under .500.

Did you see the Twins offense this week? Which do you think is more likely, sweeping Cleveland or getting swept by them?

There’s a fine line between optimism and blind homerism IMO.

Sure I saw the "offense" this week and every other week they have played. In fact I've watched all but a few games this summer. I've seen them kick butt more than once.

Frankly I wouldn't bet on either team this weekend.

With it being the middle of June I'm optimistic. However if the date was Sept 14 I'd say don't bet on the Twins.

6 games out with 14 games left to play is a lot different than 6 games out with 100 games left to play. That fine line doesn't exist at this point.

[jun]

 

You mean back to AAA, right? I don't see anywhere that they've re-added him to the team. 

I don't think Astudillo is going to be viewed as a utility infielder... I can't see him backing up 2B, SS, and 3B.

Yes Petit cleared the waiver and accepted the assignment to Rochester. I guess he still enjoys his time with the organization. The news is on mlbtraderumors.

[ashbury]

I don't think Astudillo is going to be viewed as a utility infielder... I can't see him backing up 2B, SS, and 3B.

Wait, you're saying this isn't our shortstop of the future?

 

http://www.philliesnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/WilliansAstudillo2.jpg

 

(From 4 years and, I'm betting, 20 pounds ago.)

[jorgenswest]

Wait, you're saying this isn't our shortstop of the future?

 

http://www.philliesnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/WilliansAstudillo2.jpg

 

(From 4 years and, I'm betting, 20 pounds ago.)

Great. The guy hasn’t played a game for the Twins yet and he is already taking crap from our wonderful fan base.

 

He is an option because he is hitting well. He has started games at third base this year and last and he can play catcher. He has worked hard at low pay to turn himself from organizational filler to a chance to play in the majors.

[ashbury]

 

Petit just came back and I think Astudillo can play any position on the field except pitcher.

Great. The guy hasn’t played a game for the Twins yet and he is already taking crap from our wonderful fan base.

I don't see that humorously rebutting a poster's assertion reflects on the player himself. He is what he is, a solidly built corner defender at most.

[wsnydes]

When I said two years ago that Molitor has no 'feel' for the game, this was what I meant. Being a HOF hitter means you have extraordinary hand eye coordination. But it doesn't mean you know anything about baseball.

I think he knows a lot about baseball...but does not have the knack for managing. Great players don't always, if not rarely, make good managers.

 

I respect the hell out of his playing career, but I can't wait for his manager tenure to end. I didn't like that it started in the first place.

Edited June 15, 2018 by wsnydes

[wsnydes]

Yeah, twice in a roll he hit the first pitch he saw to end the game with a loss. Tell me that's the definition of working hard.

That has nothing to do with his work ethic, just his situational awareness.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

 

Wait, you're saying this isn't our shortstop of the future?

 

http://www.philliesnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/WilliansAstudillo2.jpg

 

(From 4 years and, I'm betting, 20 pounds ago.)

Good luck.

[jorgenswest]

I don't see that humorously rebutting a poster's assertion reflects on the player himself. He is what he is, a solidly built corner defender at most.

Is there a way to be humorous without targeting the player?

[jimbo92107]

Last time out Lynn pitched an extra inning, getting by with less heat and a so-so curve ball. This time it looks like the opposition was ready for Lynn running out of gas, but the "exposure" theory also works. 

 

What is Lynn's main weapon? Low- to mid-90's heat in the early innings. After the third time through the order, two bad things happen: Opposition has seen his heater, which is slowing down, and Lynn's off-speed pitches are mlb average at best. That spells a hard 100 pitch limit. Lynn has neither the stamina nor the alternative offerings to survive after that. 

[mikelink45]

 

I asked this in the game thread, I'll ask again here.

 

I wonder how many times Molitor has removed a starter, after the 5th inning, immediately after the starter gives up a tieing or go ahead run.

 

He's possibly the worst manager I've ever seen at waiting until the damage has been done before the grim faced trudge out to the mound to take the ball.

When you are going to turn things over to Addison Reed, I would think twice about making a change too.

[mikelink45]

It is true that we need an infusion, not sure that the moves we made ended up with the players we need in MLB.  Where is Wade, where is Gordon.  There is a post siting his poor AAA start, that will change, but right now he is the best we have unless you are calling up Royce Lewis.  We have tried LaMarre, Cave, Grossman - can Wade have a chance?

 

Sano needed a refresher, I do not know that I think he needed to go to A ball where he can mash on the pitching.  But it is a start at doing something.  So what do you do about Dozier?  He can hit 50 HRs in the second half and it will not make up for the terrible first half.   What about Kepler.  He looked like he was ready to make it Eddie, Eddie and Max for a while but he has been a perfect with with our under-performers.

 

At the beginning of the month I said LOMO stunk and got kick back that he had turned it around. It is June 14, and he still stinks.  Catchers, our big duo of Reed and Duke have been much less that expected. 

 

Sorry to say, but Molitor is not the big issue. 

[yarnivek1972]

When you are going to turn things over to Addison Reed, I would think twice about making a change too.

There are 7 other guys out there. The only one who thinks Molitor needs to use Reed everyday is Molitor.

[D.C Twins]

For those still keeping track at home, Grossman and Wilson are still on the MLB roster....sigh

[Riverbrian]

 

Yeah, twice in a roll he hit the first pitch he saw to end the game with a loss. Tell me that's the definition of working hard.

 

It shows an eagerness to get the job done. 

 

 

 

 

[Riverbrian]

 

One good game does not save your life. Cave is an example. Adrianza should take note on that and work harder.

 

I'm sick and tired of people blaming all the players hitting under .217 for the past month with an OPS under .677 for the past 30 days, All with enough playing time for over 68 AB's during that stretch.

 

It makes absolutely no sense to pin this on Kepler, Dozier, Morrison, Grossman and Sano. 

 

It's about time someone hit the nail on the head and fixates on the real problem... Jake Cave. 

 

[Riverbrian]

 

I think he knows a lot about baseball...but does not have the knack for managing. Great players don't always, if not rarely, make good managers.

I respect the hell out of his playing career, but I can't wait for his manager tenure to end. I didn't like that it started in the first place.

 

He's great when the players he puts in the lineup play well.  

 

He is also wonderful at putting the same guys in the lineup over and over again when they are playing terribly. 

 

I'm starting to get the opinion that he isn't a plan B type of guy. 

 

[Aerodeliria]

It's getting ugly. Someone said every game is the same game being replayed...maybe not but it sure feels that way.

[wsnydes]

 

He's great when the players he puts in the lineup play well.  

 

He is also wonderful at putting the same guys in the lineup over and over again when they are playing terribly. 

 

I'm starting to get the opinion that he isn't a plan B type of guy. 

All managers are great when their players play well.  It's when they're not that makes a good manager look good.

 

I'm with you on the no Plan B type.  He seems awfully rigid in his ways when it comes to who he's playing.  It's like he's got his favorites and if you don't get that label, you ain't playing.  That's also not a good thing to have in a manager.  That's also on the FO to some extent.  If the roster is half full of guys the manager won't play, they need to find someone that he will.

[Doctor Wu]

As baffling as Molitor's usage of Lynn was in this game, you aren't going to win unless you start hitting and scoring more runs. Another depressing game. On a slightly more optimistic note, I noticed that although Berrios leads the staff in strikeouts, Lynn has a slighter higher K/9 ratio, leading all Twins starters at 9.31, Hey, I'm trying to find encouragement any way I can at this point!

[wsnydes]

 

As baffling as Molitor's usage of Lynn was in this game, you aren't going to win unless you start hitting and scoring more runs. Another depressing game. On a slightly more optimistic note, I noticed that although Berrios leads the staff in strikeouts, Lynn has a slighter higher K/9 ratio, leading all Twins starters at 9.31, Hey, I'm trying to find encouragement any way I can at this point!

Definitely true.  I think that's what frustrates me most - they had a lead and Molitor let his starter keep going.  I didn't mind that Lynn came out to start the inning, but he should have been yanked after the triple.  Waiting until the damage is done is too late.  At that point, Lynn may as well have finished the inning.

[Doctor Wu]

 

Needs to be an infielder. Motter is on the 40. Gordon hasn’t done that well in AAA.

We have someone named "Motter" on the 40-man roster? Who is this guy and where did he come from? Man, I'm missing more than I notice lately!

[Riverbrian]

 

All managers are great when their players play well.  It's when they're not that makes a good manager look good.

 

I'm with you on the no Plan B type.  He seems awfully rigid in his ways when it comes to who he's playing.  It's like he's got his favorites and if you don't get that label, you ain't playing.  That's also not a good thing to have in a manager.  That's also on the FO to some extent.  If the roster is half full of guys the manager won't play, they need to find someone that he will.

 

Everybody makes a wrong turn and heads the wrong direction every once in awhile.

 

It's the ones who keep going the wrong direction that concern me. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Platoon]

All managers are great when their players play well.  It's when they're not that makes a good manager look good.

 

I'm with you on the no Plan B type.  He seems awfully rigid in his ways when it comes to who he's playing.  It's like he's got his favorites and if you don't get that label, you ain't playing.  That's also not a good thing to have in a manager.  That's also on the FO to some extent.  If the roster is half full of guys the manager won't play, they need to find someone that he will.

I am all in on the rigidly and favorites assumptions, and have been since the beginning of his tenure. But I do disagree with the FO supplying him with who he wants. If that's the case I don't think we need a FO, simply a GM/coach figure. I have said this before, and will repeat. Good managers probably don't "win" ball games. But bad managers definitely lose them. While I know that premise is subjective, after 3 years it can also be obvious.