Kubel vs. Monroe

by by jiminy on Mar 28, 2008 1:19 PM EDT Comment 6 comments

from http://www.twincities.com/ci_8722836?source=rss

"I'm going to go by matchups," Gardenhire said Thursday. "One guy might not handle changeups very well. The other guy (might be) not very good on a real good slider. So I'm going to start looking at pitchers like that, kind of decide on who I think has a better chance that night."

So which one can't hit sliders, and which can't hit changeups?

(No comment needed about the following)

It's not a strictly left-right decision, either, Gardenhire said.

"I don't like the word 'platoon' with those guys," he said. "I'm not big on that."

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Please let Kubel start!

We need to see what Kubel can do. Kubel obviously has more upside, but has never really been given a shot to take a position for his own. hopeful predictions for Monroe include about a .740 OPS, while Kubel's hopeful projection would easily be around .900. Realistically speaking, in Ron Shandler's Baseball Forecaster, Kubel is slated to bat .286 with 20 HR, 89 RBI and 7 SB. Shandler is generally pretty conservative too, so that is realistic. I am guessing most people would agree, and I don't see why Gardy can't see such obvious things (the easy example is Punto last year)... Kubel would fit better into the lineup in the 6 slot as well, batting lefty behind Delmon Young, a righty. My guess has to be that it is Kubel's job to lose and that Monroe will only play in games where the other pitcher is a left-handed Kubel Killer.

by TwinsRube on Mar 28, 2008 3:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

GM v Mgr

I think this is the point when Smith and Gardy need to sit down and talk. Actually, three months ago was that point.

Smith needs to say, "Hey, Gardy. I brought in a great right-handed BENCH bat. Plus, he can be the emergency backup at all 3 outfield positions!!!"

Then Gardy can say, "Great, I'll use him instead of Kubel."

Smith: "I think we need to try to give Kubel as many at bats as possible. He has the most potential, and we need to develop him."

Gardy: "Really? Cuz every time he's at-bat, I get so bored I doze off before anything happens? He's just soooo boring. Plus, Monroe's a veteran, so I know what I'll get outta him"

Smith: "You're fired. Just kidding. But I get to do the starting line-ups."

by snolls on Mar 28, 2008 4:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Funny hypothetical

and sadly, probably pretty accurate.

A lot of the things Gardenhire does appears to be motivated by a desire to defend himself from criticism. Playing veterans over unproven potential star prospects is just one example, this form of blatant doublespeak is another:

I will "go by matchups" based on who "has a better chance that night" but I won't "platoon" them, I don't like the word "platoon."

He consistently seems to hedge his bets when speaking to the media (us), which is exactly what you do when you are a politician or gunshy. Gregg Easterbrook does a good job of explaining this issue in his "Tuesday Morning Quaterback" segment on ESPN.Com's page 2. I certainly dont agree with everything Gregg writes, and sometimes I think he is a little overly uncharitable, but his take on professional coaches/managers doing things blindly by the book, or making the least objectionable decision possible, to avoid criticism if things don't work out strikes me as very applicable to Gardenhire, especially when I read quotes like the one above which sound ridiculously contradictory.

by montanatwinsfan on Mar 28, 2008 8:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dictionary.com:

Platoon - N. to use (a player) at a position in a game alternately with another player or players.

-Flip

by Flip27 on Mar 28, 2008 5:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Err... That should be V. for Verb...

Whoops

-Flip

by Flip27 on Mar 28, 2008 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kubel Please!

I say we go with Kubel. I don't really know why we signed Monroe, except to provide depth. Kubel was a decent DH last year, and an even better one the year before. We should go with Kubel until his production drops so far that we are forced to go with Monroe.

Until then, I say we go with Kubel regularly, with the occasional glimpse of Monroe.

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by Andersklasen on Mar 28, 2008 11:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs