Derek Falvey Interview on 1500 ESPN

[Vanimal46]

Falvey discusses Sano, payroll, etc.

 

http://www.1500espn.com/twins-2/2018/12/full-interview-derek-falvey-unveils-miguel-sano-plan-mackey-judd/

[PseudoSABR]

 

Falvey discusses Sano, payroll, etc.

http://www.1500espn.com/twins-2/2018/12/full-interview-derek-falvey-unveils-miguel-sano-plan-mackey-judd/

Please transcribe?

[Vanimal46]

Please transcribe?

I'm about to walk my dog now and will report back after listening to it. Only heard snippets so far while working.

[PseudoSABR]

 

I'm about to walk my dog now and will report back after listening to it. Only heard snippets so far while working.

I was kidding, but thanks for obliging!

[Vanimal46]

I was kidding, but thanks for obliging!

Falvey is honored to be thought of as an analytical FO type, but thinks of himself as a people first executive.

 

He fully believes in building an internal core first and supplement after.

 

Judd and Mackey are buying into a potential 10 win swing just from Buxton/Sano/Kepler reaching their potential.

 

Falvey doesn't believe in ceilings for scouting.

 

Sano is working with the same guy who created his workout plan in Ft. Myers this winter. His workouts are being recorded and sent back to the HQ in Minneapolis. Sano also has to check into Ft. Myers facility every month or so to make sure he's on pace.

 

Re: short term contracts. He thinks Schoop is in an entirely different situation than Lynn/Morrison who were more or less resentful last off-season to not get a long term deal.

 

Team quality is more important than payroll numbers.

[jkcarew]

 

Sano also has to check into Ft. Myers facility every month or so to make sure he's on pace.

Sounds like there was a reference to the plan having a 'monthly progression'...but specific to the check-ins at the Ft. Myers facility, I think Falvey said they are weekly. Which sounds about 4.3 times better to me.

 

Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Van! Nice long interview. For those of you that want to listen, the Falvey segments start at 15:10

[Mike Sixel]

Team quality is more important than payroll numbers.

 

the earth rotates such that the sun appears to rise in the East.

[Mike Sixel]

He fully believes in building an internal core first and supplement after.

 

One way to do this is to sign players or trade for them with more than 3 years of control. Prospects are around for 6 years. Trading for a guy with 3-4-5 years of control left is not short term thinking, and you know a lot more about how he'll perform in the majors than any prospect.

[Vanimal46]

Sounds like there was a reference to the plan having a 'monthly progression'...but specific to the check-ins at the Ft. Myers facility, I think Falvey said they are weekly. Which sounds about 4.3 times better to me.

 

Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Van! Nice long interview. For those of you that want to listen, the Falvey segments start at 15:10

Weekly check ins are better than monthly for sure! My bad, my dog got distracted a few times on our walk tonight.

[Shaitan]

 

Re: short term contracts. He thinks Schoop is in an entirely different situation than Lynn/Morrison who were more or less resentful last off-season to not get a long term deal.

Team quality is more important than payroll numbers.

 

What does "team quality" mean in his context? Here, it sounds like it refers to clubhouse culture, but I'm connecting it to the Schoop blurb...perhaps just in my head.

[Vanimal46]

What does "team quality" mean in his context? Here, it sounds like it refers to clubhouse culture, but I'm connecting it to the Schoop blurb...perhaps just in my head.

Clubhouse culture. Talking about adding players that want to be here, instead of players who expected long term contracts and took their offer out of necessity to work like Lynn and Morrison.

[TheLeviathan]

 

Team quality is more important than payroll numbers.

 

the earth rotates such that the sun appears to rise in the East.

 

Shut the thread down.  Winner right here, pretty much sums it up.

[DocBauer]

I would strongly recommend everyone listen to the interview. I found it interesting, informative and honest.

 

I will confess, this is the first time I sat down and actually listened to any sort of interview with either of our new FO rather than read snipers. At times, there have been comments and opinions regarding the FO and being transparent or even cold in their approach. (Just various comments made in the past). I thought Falvey was quite open, engaging and personal, and struck me as a real fan of baseball, not just an executive.

 

As Vanimal already touched on most of the subjects, I just wanted to add a few things.

 

1] He does believe in a true core for the team and then augmenting. He pointed out the 3yr deal for Castro as an example of a multi-year deal making sense for the team, and suggested at not being opposed to them, but how things fell last season allowed for a series of 1yr deals that made sense and had ownerships blessing to do so. And he used Castro and last year's deals in response, (it's all tied together), in regard to Judd and Mackey rather boldly asking about the money coming off the books and fans asking/demanding it be spent. He mentioned how even last season, as example, there were players available that were talented and great fits, (bargains?), but for the right team/situation, not necessarily for the Twins.

 

2] He seemed to embrace the 10-12 game swing brought up, while not necessarily making excuses, but mentioned the first half of 2017 for Sano and the second half of Buxton, but then what happened this season, coupled with the Polanco suspension and the loss of Santana and Castro. Also touched, very briefly, on his poor season. There was a reference that they felt they had 3 of the top players in baseball at their positions, (sorry, forgetting the exact comment right now), but how it didn't turn out that way.

 

3] Speaking of Sano and Buxton, nothing else to add to Sano, but he stated he's been in contact with Byron, and his agent, and Byron is in a "good place". He said he's working out, hitting, and really determined to be fully healthy and wanting to play a full season.

 

4] Short term deals: Again, he referenced things just fell right last season to make the moves they did, with ownership blessing. But he did agree that guys arriving late may have had an effect on their season's, and seemed to hint that someone expecting/hoping for a big deal and not getting it could have an effect.

 

In regard to Schoop, as mentioned, he pretty much stated he only wanted a 1yr deal to build value for 2020 and beyond. And he was rather candid that he was one of the top 2B in MLB coming off 2017.

 

At any rate, just a few more comments.

[DocBauer]

Team quality is more important than payroll numbers.

 

the earth rotates such that the sun appears to rise in the East.

Mike, I think We're on the same page enough that I can take this comment as half serious and half tongue-in-cheek.

 

But I do think the comment "team quality is more important than payroll numbers" shouldn't just be easily dismissed. (Not saying you are).

 

Falvey's comment could be seen as flippant. But I think We're all cognizant enough to realize there aren't always easy answers such as "throw money at it". I absolutely agree there is a time and place and opportunity to do so. Despite a frustrating and crazy and "unlucky" season in so many respects, the ONE THING that really drives me crazy is the games lost. I think someone posted we lost something like 26 games in the late innings. To me, even with a few decent options on hand, the bullpen is the one singular place where this team can really improve itself. And with so many options available, and money to spend, even if payroll is cut back, this is the place for the opportunity to add more than just a collection of 1yr offerings.

 

Tongue-in-cheek or not, I think you would agree that a viable CORE needs to be established. I think what is left to be determined is how the players, and all their talent and potential, performs in 2019 with a few more additions.

[Riverbrian]

So... here is what we have. 

 

Morrison produced extremely below average. 

 

Morrison had a painful hip injury. 

 

Morrison didn't get the reps necessary because he was late to spring training holding out for a long term contract that never came.   

 

Morrison was possible a clubhouse disruption because he didn't get a long term contract. 

 

 

None of those four things properly explain why he was in the lineup every day. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Doomtints]

 

So... here is what we have. 

 

Morrison produced extremely below average. 

 

Morrison had a painful hip injury. 

 

Morrison didn't get the reps necessary because he was late to spring training holding out for a long term contract that never came.   

 

Morrison was possible a clubhouse disruption because he didn't get a long term contract. 

 

 

None of those four things properly explain why he was in the lineup every day. 

 

Right. If the dude was whining or moping or angry or whatever else so much that he can't play, bench him......

[Riverbrian]

 

Right. If the dude was whining or moping or angry or whatever else so much that he can't play, bench him......

 

How many big huge Las Vegas style neon signs are necessary to lead the way to the obvious decision. 

 

Injured

Under Prepared

Malcontent

 

All have been printed as excuses. 

 

Plus actual honest to god poor production that we can all see without benefit of any quotes. 

 

Yet we had to wait until HE PULLED the plug for surgery that got him healthy in time for some other teams spring training before moving on to another option. 

 

I won't stand for that again as a fan and I've stood for a lot as a lifelong Twins fan. 

[nicksaviking]

So... here is what we have. 

 

Morrison produced extremely below average. 

 

Morrison had a painful hip injury. 

 

Morrison didn't get the reps necessary because he was late to spring training holding out for a long term contract that never came.   

 

Morrison was possible a clubhouse disruption because he didn't get a long term contract. 

 

 

None of those four things properly explain why he was in the lineup every day. 

What if the fifth point of reference was Paul Molitor got fired?

[PseudoSABR]

 

So... here is what we have. 

 

Morrison produced extremely below average. 

 

Morrison had a painful hip injury. 

 

Morrison didn't get the reps necessary because he was late to spring training holding out for a long term contract that never came.   

 

Morrison was possible a clubhouse disruption because he didn't get a long term contract. 

 

 

None of those four things properly explain why he was in the lineup every day. 

Morrison was probably the best option to start regardless of his attitude, which isn't a great place to be in, no? 

 

And, the alleged problematic culture I think was contributed by others, namely Lynn, and including Dozier (pending FA), to a degree we aren't probably willing to admit. 

[Riverbrian]

 

What if the fifth point of reference was Paul Molitor got fired?

 

I wish I knew 100% that the handling of Morrison (and others) was a contribution to the why so I can sleep better knowing it's over. 

 

I still wake up in the middle of the night screaming... WATCH OUT FOR THE SHIFT... LAY DOWN A BUNT... HURRY LAY DOWN A BUNT, THE SHIFT IS COMING... THE SHIFT IS COMING. 

 

Then there is the Astudillo in the Utility Cage Nightmare. Pitchers are throwing the ball and nobody is there to catch it. Meanwhile, Astudillo is in a glass cage out in CF wearing full catcher's gear, he has no food, water and a dwindling oxygen supply and the players are all standing around with no idea how to get him out. 

 

I guess I'm still not sleeping right because of "group think" still being a possibility and group think is much harder to clean up so it never happens again.  If it was all Molitor? I doubt it, but if it was, he's gone and it's over. 

 

To hear Falvey talk about learning that being a late signing and missed spring training time was an issue, it just makes me think about their responsibility in all of it. 

 

You will find some late signing/missed spring training players who worked out. It's not a cut and dried explanation to what happened.

 

You will find some one year contracts that worked out... it's not a cut and dried explanation.

 

The real lesson to be learned is this. It's the individual players and the handling of the individual players.

 

The players were failing and the manager (or management) failed to deal with failing players. Plan B was never executed and they went down with the ship. That's the lesson to be learned. 

 

I'm watching this off-season to see if they learned that lesson. 

 

 

 

[Riverbrian]

 

Morrison was probably the best option to start regardless of his attitude, which isn't a great place to be in, no? 

 

And, the alleged problematic culture I think was contributed by others, namely Lynn, and including Dozier (pending FA), to a degree we aren't probably willing to admit. 

 

Agreed it isn't a great place to be in. Disagree that he was probably the best option to start. His numbers were too low a bar to clear. Again... Bad Numbers, Painful Hip Injury, clubhouse issues. The excuses are being piled up but each excuse being offered is just another reason why Morrison shouldn't have been allowed to play every day. If the team doesn't have a replacement for all of that... I don't know what to say but I'm stunned that I'm struggling to make my point this off-season with other TD posters that maybe we should get a full roster of players this year for smoother transition into a Plan B or Plan C. 

 

On the problematic culture. I wasn't in the locker room so I'm not willing to contribute based on speculation. . But again... If your players are not performing and they are problems in the locker room and still playing every day...This is on the manager or the group think that allowed it. 

 

 

Those excuses that Falvey or Lavine offer up don't carry much water with me. They have my support but I'm watching... I will not have another summer ruined by this ticky-tack millionaire ****. 

[yarnivek1972]

So... here is what we have.

 

Morrison produced extremely below average.

 

Morrison had a painful hip injury.

 

Morrison didn't get the reps necessary because he was late to spring training holding out for a long term contract that never came.

 

Morrison was possible a clubhouse disruption because he didn't get a long term contract.

 

 

None of those four things properly explain why he was in the lineup every day.

The way the roster was set, if it wasn’t Morrison, it was going to be the Taylor Motter, Gregorio Petit and Bobby Wilson types. Especially on days when Mauer needed a day. Morrison probably should have been DL’ed before he was. But, again, it’s not like Lou Gerhig was in AAA. As bad as Morrison was, it’s doubtful anyone that was down there would have been better. And that was the problem. The Twins had a good offense in 2018 IF

 

1) everyone stayed healthy

2) everyone performed up to rosy expectations.

 

When that didn’t happen, and realistically that almost never will, the offense was in trouble.

[ND-Fan]

My two cents worth is Falvey will always come across glowing in his interviews because he good at telling you what you want to hear but the truth is what he says and what the Twins do will be two different things. This has been the case since he has come hear and that is big difference between him and Terry Ryan. If Ryan basically told you something it was fact but the problem was he didn't tell you as much as you would like to hear. I think this why media were down on Ryan and they are so in love with Falvey until we get factual actions to what was said. The biggest evidence so far is the Buxton call up last fall and we see the Front office and Twins were just lying in the whole process and it still stinks today. Another case is the Gibson arbitration last year how do think that went down with Gibson and with the rest of the players. Fighting over small money with player and what it sent to rest of players in major League Baseball in my estimation not good move especially to franchise that has hard time attracting players to come MN. These are just couple of things I have noticed with change of Front offices not to mention handling of firing internal people and coaches. We on outside just only get little snips of what has gone on.

Getting back to Molitor on playing Morrison in todays' front office lineups are put together by analytics department each day and then only a manager can deviate because but he has to justify reason for not playing that said player. Which means there has to be pretty good reasons like player is sick or hurt beyond playing verified by training staff. Managers today don't have power of not just playing player because they don't want too. What is worse is Molitor was never in loop on player roster construction because Escobar trade was prime example of this he learned it off the TV like all the rest of us. This tells me this Front office was never in on making this good working relationship and I hope new manager is more informed or we are in for no input from the baseball side of the business. 

These are reasons I have been so down on this front office because as small market team it takes team effort from all parties. Some times the Front office needs to listen to baseball people and staff even though they may not what they are hearing. So far I haven't heard to much about the mistakes couple of times but the feel I get they are boy geniuses everyone here are so far behind its amazing you had jobs let alone decision making jobs for a baseball team.

[Riverbrian]

 

The way the roster was set, if it wasn’t Morrison, it was going to be the Taylor Motter, Gregorio Petit and Bobby Wilson types. Especially on days when Mauer needed a day. Morrison probably should have been DL’ed before he was. But, again, it’s not like Lou Gerhig was in AAA. As bad as Morrison was, it’s doubtful anyone that was down there would have been better. And that was the problem. The Twins had a good offense in 2018 IF

1) everyone stayed healthy
2) everyone performed up to rosy expectations.

When that didn’t happen, and realistically that almost never will, the offense was in trouble.

 

Not True... It turned out that Jake Cave and Willans Astudillo were better options but they will be delayed finding that out when they can't shake themselves out of... "We don't have better options" So Logan Morrison stays in with hip pain and produces worse than they guy you are afraid of trying and the guy you are afraid of trying just sits there and watches wasting precious 25 man roster space. 

 

You are absolutely right that Morrison should have been D.L'ed immediately. And personally, I don't care if they turn to Petit and say... go do it... We got to try something else, anything else because even the lowly worm will turn. 

 

All in all, It's on the front office. It is their job to sign players who the manager will turn to and they hire the manager who turns to them or doesn't.  

 

If they thought they did bring in the right players and the manager doesn't turn to them... now you got a fatal disconnect that needs to be addressed immediately and perhaps it was addressed with the hiring of a new manager. I have no idea. 

 

Everybody gets a 25 man roster and a 40 man roster. It is the responsibly of the front office to fill the roster with players who can play. It is the responsibility of the manager to utilize that roster and make adjustments as necessary when needed.  

 

I mentioned this before (many many months ago) when I started asking why Morrison was still in the lineup and I was accused of being a Ryan LaMarre bobo. I'm not a Ryan LaMarre bobo but damn it... you gave him a roster spot, utilize him or cut him and go get someone else that the manager will play. We had the need for his utilization based on the horrible play of his supposed superior talent ahead of him playing crappy. 

 

I said that Brian Dozier would be benched if he was on the Dodgers because the Dodgers won't allow Brian Dozier to perform the way he was and still get playing time. Brian Dozier the best 2B in baseball was benched just like I said he would be and not by someone who they went out and purchased with a billion dollar check book in hand. By minimum wage guys who were simply playing better baseball. 

 

The Dodgers have depth because they find it and give it a chance to be depth. The Twins don't have depth because they view things from a "Starter" "Bench" mentality. This has to stop... right now. 

 

Besides if you pre-emptively make the determination that AAAA player X is not as good as contracted player Y and you never give him the chance. You will never find Max Muncy. 

 

And worse yet... Decades of taking this approach of living with whatever painful results come from the Morrison's and Plouffe's and the Casilla's...  and filling the rest of the roster with players the manager won't play, you just create a cycle of needing to fill the roster with players who won't play every year because you never find the Max Muncy's. Then you got a team that bounces like a ping-pong ball from 1st pick overall in the draft to 20th in the draft based on the fate of 9 players who consistently perform inconsistently from year to year.

 

I hear the quotes from some of our TD faithful. "Adrianza is fine, he won't play much". YES HE WILL so go find someone who is fine, in case he plays much. 

 

Just stop doing that now please. Cave should have been discovered sooner, Astudillo should have been discovered sooner. The front office should have considered the possibility of injury or performance when staffing the 25 man in the off season because they knew it was going to happen because it always happens.

 

The front office should have made an immediate move the minute Polanco was suspended. Instead... Hey Ryan LaMarre had a great spring. He's fine... He won't play much. 

 

This is how you create depth. You simply play the players who are playing better and you have depth. 

 

This isn't hard but we make it hard because we can't get over this "Starter" "Bench" mentality, where everybody has clearly defined roles with very little consequences for not meeting expectation. 

 

Staff the 25 man roster with players who can play and will compete for playing time.

 

Anything else is a failure unless by lucky miracle, the selected core doesn't get hurt or doesn't go in the tank and that rarely happens. 

 

Play the more productive players and you get more production... It's so simple yet, it doesn't happen. 

 

Nobody will be able to convince me that the production we got from Morrison was the best we could do. And if it was... I'm done with Baseball. 

[yarnivek1972]

Not True... It turned out that Jake Cave and Willans Astudillo were better options but they will be delayed finding that out when they can't shake themselves out of... "We don't have better options" So Logan Morrison stays in with hip pain and produces worse than they guy you are afraid of trying and the guy you are afraid of trying just sits there and watches wasting precious 25 man roster space.

 

You are absolutely right that Morrison should have been D.L'ed immediately. And personally, I don't care if they turn to Petit and say... go do it... We got to try something else, anything else because even the lowly worm will turn.

 

All in all, It's on the front office. It is their job to sign players who the manager will turn to and they hire the manager who turns to them or doesn't.

 

If they thought they did bring in the right players and the manager doesn't turn to them... now you got a fatal disconnect that needs to be addressed immediately and perhaps it was addressed with the hiring of a new manager. I have no idea.

 

Everybody gets a 25 man roster and a 40 man roster. It is the responsibly of the front office to fill the roster with players who can play. It is the responsibility of the manager to utilize that roster and make adjustments as necessary when needed.

 

I mentioned this before (many many months ago) when I started asking why Morrison was still in the lineup and I was accused of being a Ryan LaMarre bobo. I'm not a Ryan LaMarre bobo but damn it... you gave him a roster spot, utilize him or cut him and go get someone else that the manager will play. We had the need for his utilization based on the horrible play of his supposed superior talent ahead of him playing crappy.

 

I said that Brian Dozier would be benched if he was on the Dodgers because the Dodgers won't allow Brian Dozier to perform the way he was and still get playing time. Brian Dozier the best 2B in baseball was benched just like I said he would be and not by someone who they went out and purchased with a billion dollar check book in hand. By minimum wage guys who were simply playing better baseball.

 

The Dodgers have depth because they find it and give it a chance to be depth. The Twins don't have depth because they view things from a "Starter" "Bench" mentality. This has to stop... right now.

 

Besides if you pre-emptively make the determination that AAAA player X is not as good as contracted player Y and you never give him the chance. You will never find Max Muncy.

 

And worse yet... Decades of taking this approach of living with whatever painful results come from the Morrison's and Plouffe's and the Casilla's... and filling the rest of the roster with players the manager won't play, you just create a cycle of needing to fill the roster with players who won't play every year because you never find the Max Muncy's. Then you got a team that bounces like a ping-pong ball from 1st pick overall in the draft to 20th in the draft based on the fate of 9 players who consistently perform inconsistently from year to year.

 

I hear the quotes from some of our TD faithful. "Adrianza is fine, he won't play much". YES HE WILL so go find someone who is fine, in case he plays much.

 

Just stop doing that now please. Cave should have been discovered sooner, Astudillo should have been discovered sooner. The front office should have considered the possibility of injury or performance when staffing the 25 man in the off season because they knew it was going to happen because it always happens.

 

The front office should have made an immediate move the minute Polanco was suspended. Instead... Hey Ryan LaMarre had a great spring. He's fine... He won't play much.

 

This is how you create depth. You simply play the players who are playing better and you have depth.

 

This isn't hard but we make it hard because we can't get over this "Starter" "Bench" mentality, where everybody has clearly defined roles with very little consequences for not meeting expectation.

 

Staff the 25 man roster with players who can play and will compete for playing time.

 

Anything else is a failure unless by lucky miracle, the selected core doesn't get hurt or doesn't go in the tank and that rarely happens.

 

Play the more productive players and you get more production... It's so simple yet, it doesn't happen.

 

Nobody will be able to convince me that the production we got from Morrison was the best we could do. And if it was... I'm done with Baseball.

 

Cave posted a .586 OPS in AAA in April. He came on strong in May and thus was in the bigs by the 19th. How much earlier should he have come up?

 

 

I’ll agree on Astudillo. He hit well last year and hit well from day one this year. He’s also played multiple positions throughout his pro career. Not even half his career pro starts have been as a catcher.

[Riverbrian]

Cave posted a .586 OPS in AAA in April. He came on strong in May and thus was in the bigs by the 19th. How much earlier should he have come up?

 

 

I’ll agree on Astudillo. He hit well last year and hit well from day one this year. He’s also played multiple positions throughout his pro career. Not even half his career pro starts have been as a catcher.

Cave whenever. Vargas whenever. The names don’t matter. The organizational filler exercise every year is pointless if the front office makes it pointless.

 

Morrison’s numbers were replaceable unless the organization rosters a player who isn’t even worth trying.

 

Morrison stayed in the lineup until he pulled the plug in August. The key word is “he” pulled the plug.

[DocBauer]

Not True... It turned out that Jake Cave and Willans Astudillo were better options but they will be delayed finding that out when they can't shake themselves out of... "We don't have better options" So Logan Morrison stays in with hip pain and produces worse than they guy you are afraid of trying and the guy you are afraid of trying just sits there and watches wasting precious 25 man roster space.

 

You are absolutely right that Morrison should have been D.L'ed immediately. And personally, I don't care if they turn to Petit and say... go do it... We got to try something else, anything else because even the lowly worm will turn.

 

All in all, It's on the front office. It is their job to sign players who the manager will turn to and they hire the manager who turns to them or doesn't.

 

If they thought they did bring in the right players and the manager doesn't turn to them... now you got a fatal disconnect that needs to be addressed immediately and perhaps it was addressed with the hiring of a new manager. I have no idea.

 

Everybody gets a 25 man roster and a 40 man roster. It is the responsibly of the front office to fill the roster with players who can play. It is the responsibility of the manager to utilize that roster and make adjustments as necessary when needed.

 

I mentioned this before (many many months ago) when I started asking why Morrison was still in the lineup and I was accused of being a Ryan LaMarre bobo. I'm not a Ryan LaMarre bobo but damn it... you gave him a roster spot, utilize him or cut him and go get someone else that the manager will play. We had the need for his utilization based on the horrible play of his supposed superior talent ahead of him playing crappy.

 

I said that Brian Dozier would be benched if he was on the Dodgers because the Dodgers won't allow Brian Dozier to perform the way he was and still get playing time. Brian Dozier the best 2B in baseball was benched just like I said he would be and not by someone who they went out and purchased with a billion dollar check book in hand. By minimum wage guys who were simply playing better baseball.

 

The Dodgers have depth because they find it and give it a chance to be depth. The Twins don't have depth because they view things from a "Starter" "Bench" mentality. This has to stop... right now.

 

Besides if you pre-emptively make the determination that AAAA player X is not as good as contracted player Y and you never give him the chance. You will never find Max Muncy.

 

And worse yet... Decades of taking this approach of living with whatever painful results come from the Morrison's and Plouffe's and the Casilla's... and filling the rest of the roster with players the manager won't play, you just create a cycle of needing to fill the roster with players who won't play every year because you never find the Max Muncy's. Then you got a team that bounces like a ping-pong ball from 1st pick overall in the draft to 20th in the draft based on the fate of 9 players who consistently perform inconsistently from year to year.

 

I hear the quotes from some of our TD faithful. "Adrianza is fine, he won't play much". YES HE WILL so go find someone who is fine, in case he plays much.

 

Just stop doing that now please. Cave should have been discovered sooner, Astudillo should have been discovered sooner. The front office should have considered the possibility of injury or performance when staffing the 25 man in the off season because they knew it was going to happen because it always happens.

 

The front office should have made an immediate move the minute Polanco was suspended. Instead... Hey Ryan LaMarre had a great spring. He's fine... He won't play much.

 

This is how you create depth. You simply play the players who are playing better and you have depth.

 

This isn't hard but we make it hard because we can't get over this "Starter" "Bench" mentality, where everybody has clearly defined roles with very little consequences for not meeting expectation.

 

Staff the 25 man roster with players who can play and will compete for playing time.

 

Anything else is a failure unless by lucky miracle, the selected core doesn't get hurt or doesn't go in the tank and that rarely happens.

 

Play the more productive players and you get more production... It's so simple yet, it doesn't happen.

 

Nobody will be able to convince me that the production we got from Morrison was the best we could do. And if it was... I'm done with Baseball.

Brian...maybe your best post ever. No BS

[DocBauer]

Just want to state that I like about 90-95% of everything the FO has done so far in just about every area. And I'm giving leeway for the remaining 5-10% for now.

 

That being said, there a couple issues I DO have with them:

 

1] Regardless of how bad Buxton was last season, couldn't SOMEONE have looked at his toe, his wrist, and just decided he should have been shut down for a time instead of trying to rush to get back?

 

2] Regarding Morrisson, but going even deeper. I bitched and moaned and complained about the Rochester roster before the season began. There just wasn't anything there! Usually, in the past under Ryan, there was usually 1 or 2 decent guys you could bring up for the short term to help out.

 

Astudillo was the best guy, but wait, hes suddenly not a catcher any longer. No wait, now hes a catcher again and not a bad one. Oh yeah, he can actually hit too. What?

 

I am anxiously awaiting for the next few moves. I am not judging anything at this early point. Hopefully a bat is still coming. And with tremendous RP depth, it shouldn't be hard to find at least a couple arms there.

 

Really, really hoping for another quality infielder like Solarte or others mentioned. We need depth and options.

 

But I also want to see a AAA roster that makes sense!

[Riverbrian]

 

Brian...maybe your best post ever. No BS

 

Doc, I know you get what I'm saying.

 

The concept is not hard, it's incredibly easy. The resistance I'm running into on depth and accountability simply eludes me. 

 

Depth and accountability should be our bare minimum expectation as fans but I guess we've gone so long without depth and accountability that people don't recognize them anymore and resist. So, we just stand around pissed until they sign Manny Machado. 

 

We are approaching a decade long rebuild, settling for Trevor Plouffe and his equivalents and deploying them like they are Mike Trout and saying Ryan LaMarre is "fine for a roster spot because he won't play much" is the reason why it's taking a decade. 

 

Depth and Accountability is going to speed things along ten fold and I don't understand why anybody could be against those things even if it didn't speed things along ten fold. 

 

Nobody could out produce Logan Morrison last year?

 

If true... That is the most damning statement ever leveled at a front office.

 

The front office could not find anyone that could out produce Logan Morrison last year. Not being able to find anyone that could out produce Logan Morrison should be cause to fire everybody with a key to the building including the janitors. 

 

Anyway, the excuses that Falvey and Lavine have been quoted as using for what happened to my summer last year is just typical ear candy and don't solve the fundamental problem. 

 

They have my support but I have "Yeah But's" for all of those excuses. 

 

Here's what they need to know.

 

Two is better than one. 

 

They can take those algorithms and do some stunning projections and they should continue doing that when staffing this roster... But... They can't guarantee that it will happen on the field because of hip injuries and all those excuses they are currently making because it didn't happen.  

 

So take those algorithms, use them but remember that two is better than one.

 

If you want a player to hit those numbers you project. Get two of them with similar projections, instead of rolling the dice with just one of them. Chances are better that at least one of them will produce the numbers your models project and all of sudden you are bullet proof or at least closer to bullet proof. 

 

 

 

[Riverbrian]

 

Cave posted a .586 OPS in AAA in April. He came on strong in May and thus was in the bigs by the 19th. How much earlier should he have come up?


I’ll agree on Astudillo. He hit well last year and hit well from day one this year. He’s also played multiple positions throughout his pro career. Not even half his career pro starts have been as a catcher.

 

Here's another thing. Cave was in the bigs in May with one foot out the door while in the bigs. He didn't stay long. 

 

Call up Cave as a "Fine but he won't play much addition to the roster" doesn't count.