Article: MIL 3, MIN 2: Pushing Against a Stone

[KirbyDome89]

 

This 25 man roster come August 1st better look a helluva lot different or I'm right there with you.

Whether it does or doesn't I think I'm already there...

 

This FO is legitimately part of the problem at this point.

[mikelink45]

 

Is anyone else at the point where they wouldn’t mind seeing a bullpen game every 5 days. Would be a good way to introduce Andrew Vasquez, Nick Anderson, and Jake Reed into the league.

I would rather see Gonsalves and learn what are starters are and then demote the present BP and start using the young guys. 

[MN_ExPat]

I... well I'm not really sure how to put this but, for some reason in the back of my brain I've got this odd feeling that some of this sits with ownership.   Some folks have pointed out that Moliter oddly seems to have a considerable amount of sway over personnel decisions.   If I remember correctly, didn't the owner publicly come to Molly's defense during the crisis of 2016?

 

I can't fully put many of these "oddities" we are seeing with the roster fully on the FO, at least not yet.   I know this seems a little out there, but it just feels like the FO is hampered a little by Moliter's relationship with the owner.

[Vanimal46]

I... well I'm not really sure how to put this but, for some reason in the back of my brain I've got this odd feeling that some of this sits with ownership. Some folks have pointed out that Moliter oddly seems to have a considerable amount of sway over personnel decisions. If I remember correctly, didn't the owner publicly come to Molly's defense during the crisis of 2016?

 

I can't fully put many of these "oddities" we are seeing with the roster fully on the FO, at least not yet. I know this seems a little out there, but it just feels like the FO is hampered a little by Moliter's relationship with the owner.

Agreed. I really doubt Belisle is their choice to keep on roster. If only there were journalists in this town that could ask these kind of questions.

[Doctor Wu]

That darn Broxton robs us again! Time to brush up on my voodoo doll making skills!

[yarnivek1972]

Yep. And will we get an answer why they're doing this and who's pulling the strings? Nope... Too controversial for beat writers to ask. They may get their press box seats taken away!

Aren’t there some TD contributors who hold press credentials?

[TheLeviathan]

 

Whether it does or doesn't I think I'm already there...

 

This FO is legitimately part of the problem at this point.

 

I can't argue with that position, just not there yet myself.  Bracing for it though.

[Puckett34]

Throw the TOWEL!!

 

[lukeduke1980]

 

I can't argue with that position, just not there yet myself.  Bracing for it though.

Last year was weird too - with all of the Adam Wilk type pitchers and the Vargas shuttle too.  It's hard to identify an organizational strategy other than 'add statisticians and draft better'.  

 

The minor league coaching changes do not seem to be fruitful yet either.  I get that it's early in terms of an organizational restructure.

[TheLeviathan]

 

Last year was weird too - with all of the Adam Wilk type pitchers and the Vargas shuttle too.  It's hard to identify an organizational strategy other than 'add statisticians and draft better'.  

 

The minor league coaching changes do not seem to be fruitful yet either.  I get that it's early in terms of an organizational restructure.

 

The drafting sure seems to be better....so far at least.

[Tom Froemming]

 

Aren’t there some TD contributors who hold press credentials?

Not full season. I've been told I can apply for credentials for individual games and there's a high likelihood the request will be approved. 

 

The problem is I don't really have the extra time to put in and, to be honest, I personally don't think getting into the clubhouse will provide any further value into what I'm trying to accomplish. Or at least that value added isn't worth the extra time to me.

 

Plus, at a certain point actions speak louder than words and there isn't a single team in baseball that's 100 percent transparent. Is there a reason why Matt Belisle is sticking around? I'm sure there is. Will someone from the front office/management actually reveal what that is? Probably not. 

 

For example, if the main reason Belisle is on the roster is due to Molitor's preference, I highly doubt anybody's actually going to come out and say that.

[Vanimal46]

It's still worth asking the question whether or not you get an honest, transparent answer. There are multiple beat writers for the StarTribune, PP, and The Athletic. Yet not a single one has raised the question to upper management.

 

Sad, really.

[Mike Sixel]

I've asked the athletic guy to, he won't.

[BJames]

The F.O. moves have mostly backfired and they have been slow to correct or use the AAA club, and they still are signing AAA castoffs that we don't need.  But, the real problem has been Dozier,Sano,Buxton,Kepler,(Polanco).  5 starters that have bombed on top of Bad moves by the F.O. and Molitor.   Injuries happen but these are 5 guys bombing while most of us thought could be All star players.  Just to many guys having a bad year.  Players,Coaches and F.O.  

[Otto von Ballpark]

I've asked the athletic guy to, he won't.

It's an interesting situation. What if you know you'll get a meaningless, boilerplate response -- do you still ask the question? Can the beat guys turn that into a piece, or is that more the domain of the columnists?

[mngopherguy]

 

Sigh...I didn't watch the last 3 games.  I'm glad I didn't based on the frustration I'm sensing.  I'm sensing that the team is now lifeless in all aspects.  I don't know if they have had a team meeting, but I think one is needed.  They are professionals and they need to give their best effort every time out there.  Being on a MLB field is a privilege.  Respect the game and work your hardest.  That's all I've got.

 

The way they are losing games screams zero confidence to me as well.  

[Vanimal46]

It's an interesting situation. What if you know you'll get a meaningless, boilerplate response -- do you still ask the question? Can the beat guys turn that into a piece, or is that more the domain of the columnists?

Yes. Getting boiler plate responses hasn't stopped reporters in all sports from asking questions such as "What's your game plan heading into Chicago?" "Is Brett Favre still your starting QB after the bye week?" "Tell me what you're feeling like after that walk off win?"

[Otto von Ballpark]

Yes. Getting boiler plate responses hasn't stopped reporters in all sports from asking questions such as "What's your game plan heading into Chicago?" "Is Brett Favre still your starting QB after the bye week?" "Tell me what you're feeling like after that walk off win?"

In that case, maybe they have asked but the response wasn't noteworthy? I mean, if they ask about Belisle, and Molitor or whomever says he was great for us last year and we saw some weak spots in our pen and our depth early this season that he can help shore up -- is that noteworthy? I don't think you can do much with that, unless you are an opinion columnist. In which case, you don't really need the quote anyway.

[KirbyDome89]

 

Last year was weird too - with all of the Adam Wilk type pitchers and the Vargas shuttle too.  It's hard to identify an organizational strategy other than 'add statisticians and draft better'.  

 

The minor league coaching changes do not seem to be fruitful yet either.  I get that it's early in terms of an organizational restructure.

I was really impressed with the draft last year. I understand that picking 20th compared to 1st won't yield the same kind of excitement of flexibility, and maybe the bar was set too high, but this year felt like a step back towards "comfortable." The $$ savings from drafting Jeffers in the 2nd could've been obtained by taking him where he was projected to go. It just seemed like a very "meh," pick.   

 

In general I have 0 issue with drafting bats that will play at the major league level. I'm also all for taking the best talent and never drafting based on need, which this FO has done. We aren't going to see (fingers crossed) high picks spent on relievers with the hope they can be converted to a starting pitcher. It's baseball; nobody would be shocked if the group taken this year turns out to be better than the last, but the draft process certainly felt different this time around.