MLB News Thread

radsoxfan

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canderson said:
Porter may very well be a terrible manager but I don't believe he was the bigger problem in Houston.
 
Perhaps true.  But just because there might be bigger problems in Houston, thats not a reason to keep Porter around. 
 
Porter had a lousy team, no doubt abut it.  But he still stunk. 
 

knucklecup

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radsoxfan said:
You guys are definitely not on the same page.  
This is simply untrue.

I like Adam Dunn against righties, as does Billy Beane and don't care about the minimal difference in defensive ability between Dunn/Gomes. They're both horrific defensive OF's, arguing who sucks less is silly IMO.

Here are the facts. A Gomes/Dunn platoon, the exact platoon I recommended when the Sox were 6-7 games out of first place months ago, is the same platoon that arguably the best GM in the sport opted to go with for his stretch run.
 

JimD

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I don't get why Porter lost his shit over the front office bringing Mark Appel up to Houston for a bullpen session.  Yeah, it's probably a straw-that-broke-the camels-back situation that had been brewing and Luhnow should have kept his manager in the loop, but Porter comes off looking pretty bad IMO.  Good luck getting a job with another club led by a GM with an analytical bent.
 

Mighty Joe Young

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I don't get why Porter lost his shit over the front office bringing Mark Appel up to Houston for a bullpen session.  Yeah, it's probably a straw-that-broke-the camels-back situation that had been brewing and Luhnow should have kept his manager in the loop, but Porter comes off looking pretty bad IMO.  Good luck getting a job with another club led by a GM with an analytical bent.
Conversely it will also increase his chances with the old school FOs. "You wouldn't believe the shit I had to put up with from that meddling SOB GM in Houston. The field is Mine! I'll play who I want. I don't want to hear any of your fancy high falootin stats. I know a player when I see one!"
 

E5 Yaz

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JimD said:
I don't get why Porter lost his shit over the front office bringing Mark Appel up to Houston for a bullpen session.  Yeah, it's probably a straw-that-broke-the camels-back situation that had been brewing and Luhnow should have kept his manager in the loop, but Porter comes off looking pretty bad IMO.  Good luck getting a job with another club led by a GM with an analytical bent.
 
From what I've read, some of the major leaguers went to Porter and asked why Appel was having bullpen session in Houston, and Porter had no answer because he wasn't in the loop. That not only gives him the sense that he's not in the loop, but sends a signal to the players that management isn't including their manager in even minor decisions.
 
What that has to do with organizations of an analytical bent, I'm not seeing
 

Mighty Joe Young

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From what I've read, some of the major leaguers went to Porter and asked why Appel was having bullpen session in Houston, and Porter had no answer because he wasn't in the loop. That not only gives him the sense that he's not in the loop, but sends a signal to the players that management isn't including their manager in even minor decisions.
 
What that has to do with organizations of an analytical bent, I'm not seeing
a) Houston is an analytically oriented FO

b) Houston has (had) isolated their Manager/players from their long range strategic thinking

Therefore Analytic Thinking is the cause of Isolating their Manager

What could be clearer?
 

MakMan44

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knucklecup said:
This is simply untrue.

I like Adam Dunn against righties, as does Billy Beane and don't care about the minimal difference in defensive ability between Dunn/Gomes. They're both horrific defensive OF's, arguing who sucks less is silly IMO.

Here are the facts. A Gomes/Dunn platoon, the exact platoon I recommended when the Sox were 6-7 games out of first place months ago, is the same platoon that arguably the best GM in the sport opted to go with for his stretch run.
Dude, if you're going to make an argument could you at least wait until the event occurs before bragging about it.
 
The actual fact remains that Dunn hasn't played a single inning in the OF for the A's yet and I think it's more likely we see Moss in the OF and Dunn at 1st than vice versa. 
 

E5 Yaz

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BCsMightyJoeYoung said:
a) Houston is an analytically oriented FO

b) Houston has (had) isolated their Manager/players from their long range strategic thinking

Therefore Analytic Thinking is the cause of Isolating their Manager

What could be clearer?
 
Yeah, I think you're being overly simplistic there. Bringing up a minor leaguer for a pen session hardly qualifies as "long range strategic thinking." It's day-to-day operations; certainly not something of such huge importance that the field manager should be excluded from, particularly when management should know that it would be noticed by players and media and Porter would be asked about it
 

Snoop Soxy Dogg

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E5 Yaz said:
 
Yeah, I think you're being overly simplistic there. Bringing up a minor leaguer for a pen session hardly qualifies as "long range strategic thinking." It's day-to-day operations; certainly not something of such huge importance that the field manager should be excluded from, particularly when management should know that it would be noticed by players and media and Porter would be asked about it
 
That, plus I have a hard time seeing how Porter is now somehow "old school" who can't deal with analytics. They would not have hired him less than two years ago (!) had that been the case. Or they hired somebody who didn't fit into their saber-mindset, either way, that FO doesn't come out all that well here.
 
Funny, Mad Dog Russo had a rant on this as part of his "brushback" segment on MLB network, about how GMs want to micro-manage teams without having to deal with the day-to-day public heat that comes with that. Pretty much what's happening here IMO.
 

Mighty Joe Young

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E5 Yaz said:
 
Yeah, I think you're being overly simplistic there. Bringing up a minor leaguer for a pen session hardly qualifies as "long range strategic thinking." It's day-to-day operations; certainly not something of such huge importance that the field manager should be excluded from, particularly when management should know that it would be noticed by players and media and Porter would be asked about it
 
I think I was trying to make the point that "Analytically Minded" FO's are still rather rare - and , as such, usually derided in much of the main stream baseball media. So they jump at the chance to link this mode of decision making with any problems the FO may exhibit. And Houston has had a few lately - none of which, from what I can see has anything to do with Organizational philosophy.
 
Houston messes up their 2014 draft ! Dammed Moneyball teams don't know what they're doing and are ruining baseball!
 
Houston has their internal communications database hacked !  Dammed Moneyball teams don't know what they're doing and are ruining baseball!
 
Houston has unknown or unpublished problems with on field staff !  Dammed Moneyball teams don't know what they're doing and are ruining baseball!
 
 
 

Mighty Joe Young

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Snoop Soxy Dogg said:
 
That, plus I have a hard time seeing how Porter is now somehow "old school" who can't deal with analytics. They would not have hired him less than two years ago (!) had that been the case. Or they hired somebody who didn't fit into their saber-mindset, either way, that FO doesn't come out all that well here.
 
Funny, Mad Dog Russo had a rant on this as part of his "brushback" segment on MLB network, about how GMs want to micro-manage teams without having to deal with the day-to-day public heat that comes with that. Pretty much what's happening here IMO.
 
Dammed Moneyball teams don't know what they're doing and are ruining baseball!
 

kieckeredinthehead

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knucklecup said:
Here are the facts. A Gomes/Dunn platoon, the exact platoon I recommended when the Sox were 6-7 games out of first place months ago, is the same platoon that arguably the best GM in the sport opted to go with for his stretch run.
 
Yes, just like the wonderful Cespedes/Ortiz platoon the Red Sox have going in left field.
 

knucklecup

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MakMan44 said:
Dude, if you're going to make an argument could you at least wait until the event occurs before bragging about it.
 
The actual fact remains that Dunn hasn't played a single inning in the OF for the A's yet and I think it's more likely we see Moss in the OF and Dunn at 1st than vice versa. 
I agree on Moss in the OF and Dunn at 1B but he was acquired to bat clean up against right handed pitching. They'll squeeze him into a position that limits the damage as much as possible.
 

MakMan44

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knucklecup said:
I agree on Moss in the OF and Dunn at 1B but he was acquired to bat clean up against right handed pitching. They'll squeeze him into a position that limits the damage as much as possible.
Which would be DH/1st base, which goes against the whole Gomes/Dunn platoon thing. 
 
https://twitter.com/Rockies/status/507363484531978240
 
 
 
Pending league approval, #Rockies & LHP Jorge De La Rosa have agreed to a 2-year extension through 2016.
 

knucklecup

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Lowrielicious said:
Brandon Moss turning into a pumpkin has hurt as much as Cespedes leaving.
 
April 4hr .842ops
May 9hr 1.047ops
June 5hr .768ops
July 5hr .729ops
August 0hr .548ops
As Lowrie pointed out in the August game thread, Brandon Moss has gone in the toilet.

Beane sees value in Dunn batting against RHP and I don't think he's particularly afraid of where he fits into the line up, especially when they have the 1B / corner OF / DH rotation that they have.
 

Darnell's Son

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knucklecup said:
As Lowrie pointed out in the August game thread, Brandon Moss has gone in the toilet.

Beane sees value in Dunn batting against RHP and I don't think he's particularly afraid of where he fits into the line up, especially when they have the 1B / corner OF / DH rotation that they have.
What does Brandon Moss' decline have to do with your assertion that Adam Dunn can play left field?
 
You're moving the goal posts like a champ though. Congrats.
 

MakMan44

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https://twitter.com/nickpiecoro/status/507896966735351808
 
Above is official 
 

E5 Yaz

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if this is accurate, sounds like illness to him or someone close
 
JimBowden_ESPN Jim Bowden
Ron Washington’s resignation had nothing to do with substance abuse according to source. #Prayers with Ron and Family during this time
 

mauidano

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E5 Yaz said:
if this is accurate, sounds like illness to him or someone close
 
JimBowden_ESPN Jim Bowden
Ron Washington’s resignation had nothing to do with substance abuse according to source. #Prayers with Ron and Family during this time
Hopefully that is the case and best wishes to Wash and his family.  Classy guy, baseball guy all the way, loved by his players and fans alike.
 
Bogar as manager huh?
 

MakMan44

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Profar has been shut down with renewed pain in his shoulder. Not even 22, but man is it frustrating seeing these young guys career broken up like this.