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

[Platoon]

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.

 

Well they did, and the caveman is in Rochester. Who ya gonna blame now? .

[USAFChief]

 

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!

The difference is...a manager can't just decide to have the team score more runs.

 

But a manager absolutely can, and does, make the decision about when to remove a pitcher. The good ones rarely have a starter lose a lead late. The bad ones wait until the train has left the station to buy a ticket, and then lament the schedule.

[wsnydes]

 

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.

I agree with the FO take.  There are limits to how culpable the FO is on who Molitor plays.  I'm not suggesting that they just bend to everything Molitor wants by any stretch.  It's the managers job to use the pieces he is given.

 

In this particular case, I don't think it matters who the FO brings in to help.  Molitor won't use them anyway.  Judging by the number of players Molitor basically refuses to use though, it makes me wonder if they're not on the same page.

 

I agree with what you say about managers winning and losing games.  My feelings are that few managers make a large impact in either direction, most basically tread water with their decision making.  Their outcome neutral.  The really good managers may steal more games than average, and bad managers may lose games that should be won more often.  The rest are basically in the middle.  I too, feel that where Molitor lies in this discussion is pretty obvious.  Ultimately it's the players that decide games, but putting players in a position to succeed is on the manager.

[Platoon]

I agree with the FO take.  There are limits to how culpable the FO is on who Molitor plays.  I'm not suggesting that they just bend to everything Molitor wants by any stretch.  It's the managers job to use the pieces he is given.

 

In this particular case, I don't think it matters who the FO brings in to help.  Molitor won't use them anyway.  Judging by the number of players Molitor basically refuses to use though, it makes me wonder if they're not on the same page.

 

I agree with what you say about managers winning and losing games.  My feelings are that few managers make a large impact in either direction, most basically tread water with their decision making.  Their outcome neutral.  The really good managers may steal more games than average, and bad managers may lose games that should be won more often.  The rest are basically in the middle.  I too, feel that where Molitor lies in this discussion is pretty obvious.  Ultimately it's the players that decide games, but putting players in a position to succeed is on the manager.

Not sure if you think they are or are not on the same page. I know in previous years I definitely thought they were not. Especially regarding rookies. This year I find it harder to discern. Either way I doubt flexibility would be a Molitor trait.

[Number3]

Send Sano to Tee Ball; makes no difference. Until and unless the Twins fire Molitor, I am convinced that this franchise has no real desire to win for what reason I have no idea.

[wsnydes]

 

Not sure if you think they are or are not on the same page. I know in previous years I definitely thought they were not. Especially regarding rookies. This year I find it harder to discern. Either way I doubt flexibility would be a Molitor trait.

In previous years, I agree that it was more obvious that they weren't on the same page for the reasons you stated.  I still don't think that they are, but I tend to agree that it's less obvious.  The glaring evidence is how Molitor uses the pieces he has, but I think that tells me what I need to know.