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Ask Jack: Minnesota Twins' Jack Goin Answers Your Questions

Parker Hageman

By Parker Hageman
in Minnesota Twins Talk

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drunksam College Ball

drunksam

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Awesome thread. A sincere thank you Mr. Goin for your hard work to make my most favoritest team in the whole wide world better.

 

Now, go make them better! ;)

 

Also, are there any fielding metrics you trust over others? Why that one? Additionally, How much smile power (spfx) did Ben Revere have and how did it help his defense and not his ability to effortlessly not hit home runs?

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nicksaviking All-Star

nicksaviking

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Great thread.

 

I'm wondering, in terms of your evaluations, are you generally given a specific player to evaluate, or are you asked to go out and find players who you think would be good fits for the organization?

 

Also, do you project what kinds of players might be better fits in the future but perhaps not now? An example would be last year there seemed to be an emphasis on getting ground-ball pitchers (Correia, Pelfrey) though if the club has concerns about the defensive prowess of future infielders in the pipeline, would you instead target strikeout/fly-ball pitchers?

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launchingthrees College Ball

launchingthrees

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The Twins Pitch to Contact Like No One Ever | FanGraphs Baseball

 

Would you say the Twins historically low strikeout rate for pitchers is a reflection of the organization's philosophy? The author of the above article suggests it must be given how far the twin's deviate from the the 2nd lowest strikeout staff.

 

"Eight Twins starters have thrown at least 30 innings. Overall, 188 starters have thrown at least 30 innings. All eight of those Twins starters rank in the bottom 29 individual strikeout rates. Not a one of them is above the 16th percentile.

There’s another way of putting this in perspective: Twins starters have that 12.2% strikeout rate. The next-lowest is 15.6%, which belongs to the Rockies. So it’s not like the Twins are in last but are nipping at another team’s heels. The Twins are so deep in last you’d almost think this would be something they’re proud of. You’d almost think it has to be deliberate, that the Twins have zigged where all the other teams zagged. But then, the Twins are middle of the pack in walks"

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Don't Feed the Greed Guy Draft Eligible

Don't Feed the Greed Guy

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Okay, here's a softball, Jack... A title like "Manager of Major League Administration and Baseball Research" is fascinating. Love of the game, and a background in numbers, sabermetrics, etc... So, what's your "call" story (sorry, I'm a pastor)? How does a baseball fan get started down this track? Also, did you have a favorite player/team growing up? Basically, what's your story?

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Brandon GCL Twins

Brandon

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1. Grimes was an infielder who became a catcher. He had a pretty solid year in his first year as a catcher. Let's let him settle in there before we move him to the mound. Sound good? We have had a few guys work as a third catcher if they were a UT infielder.

2. I can't remember the kid's name but we recently had a catcher move to the mound. This type of decision is usually our Minor League staff and the FO.

3. What about double steals?

4. Personally I'm a sucker for seniors on kiss cam. I hope my wife and I last that long.

5. I think they used to do this stuff in the 80's. Davey Johnson I think was known for it. Putting a pitcher in the outfield and then bringing him into pitch and just flip-flopping a pitcher/outfielder for a pitcher/outfielder. You would have to fact check me on that one.

 

On #5 Doug Descenzo (probably not spelled right) played for the Cubs as a back up OF swapped with the pitcher a few times in the late 80's.

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Brandon GCL Twins

Brandon

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My question is regarding Pitching staff construction at minimal costs with above average results. I figure relievers are fungible and more inconsistent year to year as a whole so they tend to be less expensive. Also a starting pitcher who can pitch 180-200 innings with a league average era costs 1/3 the amount or even less than a starter who has a higher likeliness of giving up a full run less per start. With this in mind the Twins in the past have shown a tendency to go after average starting pitchers who can average 6 innings and then put together a better than average bullpen for a net better than league average pitching staff that gives the team a chance to win a better than average amount of time especially if the offense is slightly above average or better.

 

Is that type of thinking that goes into the how the Twins put together a pitching staff?

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  • 2 weeks later...
scottz First Round Pick

scottz

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Who pissed off Jack?

 

"Who pissed off Jack?" was one of my favorite books as a kid.

 

My question to Mr. Goin: Is your given name a variation of Jack (Jack, Jackson, etc.) or John (Jonathan, John, etc.)? Inquiring minds want to know.

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Jack Goin College Ball

Jack Goin

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Is the data from Pitchf/x and the like showing where in the strike zone the pitchers throw and what pitches get hit more useful in assessing a pitcher than the actual statistics?

I guess I think of it like this. Statistics tell you what happened. Pitch f/x helps explain why it happened.

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Jack Goin College Ball

Jack Goin

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Great thread.

 

I'm wondering, in terms of your evaluations, are you generally given a specific player to evaluate, or are you asked to go out and find players who you think would be good fits for the organization?

 

 

Also, do you project what kinds of players might be better fits in the future but perhaps not now? An example would be last year there seemed to be an emphasis on getting ground-ball pitchers (Correia, Pelfrey) though if the club has concerns about the defensive prowess of future infielders in the pipeline, would you instead target strikeout/fly-ball pitchers?

The assignment changes during the course of the season. In the months leading up to the Trade Deadline it is find orgs that fit with us and then find players in their organization. As you get more locked in with a club you start focusing on specific players. The strategy changes all the time.

Those things like groundball pitcher vs flyball pitcher might be separators but not necessarily drivers.

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nicksaviking All-Star

nicksaviking

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Nobody. Have a few things going on at work right now. Plus, I thought it was just a Friday afternoon thing last week.

 

Thanks for coming by Jack. For what it's worth, if answering our foolish questions prevents you from finding quality free agents, we may consider making the sacrifice and set you free.

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snepp Ft Myers Mighty Mussels

snepp

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Thanks for coming by Jack. For what it's worth, if answering our foolish questions prevents you from finding quality free agents, we may consider making the sacrifice and set you free.

 

 

Likey.

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Badsmerf Cedar Rapids Kernels

Badsmerf

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So Jack, can you divulge what indicators led you believe Mike Pelfrey is worth bringing back? Obviously he began the season coming off TJ surgery so some struggling was to be expected. As the season wore on he became pretty good and his peripherals showed he was better than his ERA suggested. Can we get a nugget about him from you?

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ashbury Cooperstown

ashbury

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Our Assistant GM, Rob Antony, does a tremendous job in negotiating contracts. He has a great feel for when to give and take. Really fun to listen to him negotiate.

 

I have no doubt this phase of the effort requires all the finesse in the world. But picking *which* pitchers to negotiate most seriously with is no small thing either.

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twinscowboysbulls Draft Eligible

twinscowboysbulls

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Nobody. Have a few things going on at work right now. Plus, I thought it was just a Friday afternoon thing last week.

 

What could you possibly have going on at work right now!? Come on man, this forum stuff is waaaaaaay more important. All jokes aside, kudos on your signings of two pitchers who could be rock solid for the organization.

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