2014 was supposed to be a big transition year...

[DocBauer]

...so has it been?

 

 

We saw a huge transition in the FO to actually spend money to improve the team in regards to Nolasco and Hughes, Pelfrey to a lesser degree, Suzuki at catcher, Morales near mid season, and a few poor early offerings that were quickly discarded.

 

 

Although there were some widely discussed misses and mistakes at certain positions in which the Twins proved to be very wise or very lucky: ex, SS and CF.

 

 

They've actually given quite a few kids a shot to this point; Santana, Pinto, Parmelee, Tonkin, Pressly, May, Darnell, Vargas, Escobar, Hicks, Arcia, along with a few fillers. Some got a long leash, some short, some to come back again.

 

 

The FO has tried to remove vets that don't figure in tomorrow for something rather than just holding on.

 

 

Jim Pohland has talked about not being satisfied.

 

 

Sano and Buxton were supposed to be here by now, as we awaited Meyer and May.

 

 

The best laid plans of mice and men.

 

 

So is 2014 a transition year still? Or have we lost a full season?

[Shane Wahl]

That Santana, Vargas, and even Polanco have now touched the majors is important. May should be fine and Meyer will be ready to go right away in 2015. Exclude Polanco and there are suddenly four newcomers to the Twins and none of them are named Sano or Buxton (yet). This has ended up being a good year in those terms. I don't like this Suzuki/Pinto business at all. I do like the fact that the Twins have acquired Milone and now Adam.

[DaveW]

The Twins have a decent shot to win 8-10 more games then they did last year. Get to 74-76 wins this year and try to improve the same amount in 2015, then we are in business

[Monkeypaws]

I think the trades people wanted have been made - the future looks good, even without the mega-prospects. Once they are healthy, look out.

[stringer bell]

I still think it is a year too late. The transition is in full swing.

[Thegrin]

This has definitely been a rebuilding year.  Who would have thought that Santana & Vargas would make the jump from AA New Britain and hit so well.  The season isn't over, but they both look like fixtures for the future. 

Hughes & Gibson are the only pitchers still starting for the Twins. Nolasco will certainly rejoin the rotation when he is declared fit for duty.  I wouldn't be surprised if he pitches from the bullpen for his first outings back with the team.  Pino & Milone came from trades and May is a HUGE question mark at this time.

We have found out that  Dozier & Plouffe can play above average baseball and E Escobar can be a starting shortstop on a major league team.

Arcia and Parmalee are still question marks, but the Twins have played them regularly this far, we might as well play them through the rest of the season before we give up on them.

[Paul Pleiss]

I don't like this Suzuki/Pinto business at all.

 

I have no problem with bringing Zook back. If Pinto isn't ready to be a full-time catcher, there's not anyone else at the high-minors who can do that. Glad they extended him. It seems, however, that Pinto is ready to come back to MLB, if only to mash baseballs. Maybe that's his long-term value. I know there are a lot of DH/1B types on this team already, but it seems Pinto is a far better roster stash than Fryer.

 

All in all this season has been a disappointment, but it hasn't been a lost season. Buxton was delayed but is now at AA. Sano lost a year, but I think as a whole the team and the organization are moving in the right direction, it's just going to take longer than expected to be competetive both within the division and for a WS title.

[old nurse]

I still think it is a year too late. The transition is in full swing.

Although I really would hate to rehash 2013, You are correct with noting one problem. I don't think the tradeable pieces off that team cooperated by playing well. The young players other than Dozier did not step forward. There were no minor leaguers like a Santana close enough to be given a shot.. If there were young players to be given a shot, they got it. Hicks, Parmelee, Collabello, Herman, Pressley, Albers and Hendriks all had chances to step forward. Not to mentions several 100 AAA batters and pitchers that made an extended appearance.  Thielbar was Rookie of the year? http://twinsdaily.com/articles.html/_/minnesota-twins-news/minnesota-twins/2013-twins-rookie-of-the-year-who-gets-your-vote-r2091

There were no veterans playing well enough to get trade value for, there were no new players playing well enough to generate hope, the only player that played with hope for the future was Dozier.

[diehardtwinsfan]

2014 has been a transition year. Probably not to the extent that we would have liked. My expectations were to see Sano some time this year (big disappointment, though outside of everyone's control), and some of Santana (pleasant surprise).

 

I expected Buxton (another injury), Vargas, and Meyer this fall. I figured Pinto would be playing every day (except that he didn't do as well as we'd like), some combination of Darnell and May in the rotation.

 

I expected to see Gibson (did well), Hicks and Arcia (not so much) establish themselves. I was hoping one or both of Plouffe and Parmelee to claim a starting job (believev it or not, they have).

 

We don't get everything that we want, but this was pretty much a transition. For next year, we will be watching a number of these guys attempt to establish themselves. I'll be watching for steps forward from Arcia (hopefully a big one), Parmelee, Pinto (the bat is ready, hopefully the defense is better), Vargas, and Plouffe. I'll be hoping that both Meyer and May establish themselves in the rotation at some point. I'm also hoping that Sano, Buxton, and Hicks are forcing their way into the lineup come June.

 

Will it all happen? Probably not. If it does, this team will be in contention. I'd expect a few solid gains and some bumps in the road, but a .500 team next season is well within reach I think.

[stringer bell]

There aren't many instances where every transaction works out--for every surprise there is a disappointment. I anticipate the three best prospects in the Twins' system to all graduate in 2015--Meyer, Sano, and Buxton (probably in that order)--added to guys like Arcia, Santana, Escobar, Dozier, Mauer, and Plouffe. The starting pitching could take a huge step forward with Gibson, Hughes, May, Meyer, Milone, Pelfrey, and Pino competing and with some successful AAA hurlers behind them. I would like to see Plouffe get some reps in left field and to see what the Twins have in Pinto. In the bullpen, I don't advocate an overall selloff. Burton is probably gone after the season, Duensing and Fien are capable, but nothing special. If they can get something for any of those three this month, go for it. If not, hang on to a couple veteran arms.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I still think it is a year too late. 

 

I agree that it would have been nice to see the youth movement start earlier but the Twins simply didn't have the horses to do it. Kyle Gibson and Aaron Hicks were the only guys who had a shot last year and one of them bombed out of the league spectacularly while the other was merely awful.

[Mike Sixel]

I think it has finally started. It hasn't been all we had hoped, though. Outside of Santana (who would have guessed), they somehow still have zero legit MLB OF on this roster, when you need 3-4 of them, they manage to have maybe 1 (assuming he's an OF going forward). 

 

Now if only they'd cut bait on the old RP and start using young guys with options, this team would really be in full transition mode.

[iTwins]

I'd say this has been a transition year, though not to the extent we were hoping for. No Buxton or Sano makes things a bit less...exciting, but let's not forgot the changes the Twins DID make.

 

Kyle Gibson looks to be maturing as a starter and could be a quality #3 starter for years to come. Danny Santana has gotten a good shot this season and has excelled. Kenny Vargas is up and getting a shot at the DH / 1B job. Trevor May will get a handful of big league starts under his belt this season, which will help him grow (hopefully a lot like Gibson this year) into next season.

 

The team has also moved expiring contracts for young pitching. Willingham and Correia have been flipped to other teams. I think the Twins have more pitching depth now than they've had in a long while. Milone, Hughes, May, Meyer (eventually), Gibson, Thielbar, Presley and Tonkin all shape up a young pitching core that could soon see additions like Burdi and Jason Adam join their ranks.

 

There's been a youth movement this season - maybe not as aggressive as we all would have liked, but the changes have been made. I'd say this was certainly a transition year.

[jorgenswest]

It should have started mid 2012.

 

I hope they don't put it in reverse and fill with decline phase veterans this winter only to restart the rebuild next August.

[drjim]

It should have started mid 2012.

 

I hope they don't put it in reverse and fill with decline phase veterans this winter only to restart the rebuild next August.

 

The plus side is that there are few places to put decline phase vets going into next year. They will probably sign a corner OF, but that is probably out of necessity.

 

If they sign a SP I suspect they will go big, and they might take a flyer or two on a RP but nothing that should be all that big of a problem going forward.

[drjim]

I think it was the start of the transition, but the injuries to Buxton and Sano will string it out a little longer than would have been hoped in a best case scenario situation.

 

Bringing in Meyer, Sano, Buxton next year will be a serious talent infusion and hopefully combine with continued development for the other young guys that have broken in the past two seasons. They could have something going by the end of next year and potentially look bright heading into 2016.

[Brock Beauchamp]

It should have started mid 2012.

 

Except that the Twins had few/no viable prospects to promote at that point...

 

The concept of a rebuild is great but the team needs prospects to make it work. The Twins didn't have enough in the high minors to start any kind of legitimate rebuild.

 

Could they have traded Willingham? Maybe. Would it have made a difference in 2012, 2013, or even 2014? Probably not.

[Brandon]

The first wave of prospects have arrived.  There's more coming.  So we will even have prospects to trade we have so many of them now.  So hopefully this turns into another 10 year run so I don't have to be disappointed before the year even begins. 

[tobi0040]

Except that the Twins had few/no viable prospects to promote at that point...

 

The concept of a rebuild is great but the team needs prospects to make it work. The Twins didn't have enough in the high minors to start any kind of legitimate rebuild.

 

Could they have traded Willingham? Maybe. Would it have made a difference in 2012, 2013, or even 2014? Probably not.

 

I don't think the Twins have focused enough on rebuilding.   Lot of talk about the three 34-35 year olds we signed.... The injuries of Sano and Buxton played a huge role. 

 

But I think May and Meyer should have been up here 2 months prior.  We wasted innings on Pelfrey, Pino, Johnson, and Darnell IMO.  I would have liked to see Pinto actually get a shot at catching up here and Santana a shot at SS. Playing them at CF and DH does not make sense for the 2015 or 2016 team.

 

As we look to next year, I really hope we avoid re-tread signings and we really need to get Pelfrey a gold watch and send him on his way.  Hopefully, barring injury, Sano and Buxton don't have to wait as much and Meyer and May did. I don't have the patience.

 

It all starts with a vision.  Without it, we are all over the board with our decisions.  Is the goal a 78 win team in 2015, or a 90 win team in 2016?  You get to both of those with different decisions.  I hope we choose the 90 win team with a slightly longer outlook.

[drjim]

The first wave of prospects have arrived.  There's more coming.  So we will even have prospects to trade we have so many of them now.  So hopefully this turns into another 10 year run so I don't have to be disappointed before the year even begins. 

 

This is actually the second year with a significant wave of prospect graduations, with a couple more years to follow. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

But I think May and Meyer should have been up here 2 months prior.  We wasted innings on Pelfrey, Pino, Johnson, and Darnell IMO.  I would have liked to see Pinto actually get a shot at catching up here and Santana a shot at SS. Playing them at CF and DH does not make sense for the 2015 or 2016 team.

 

I also would have liked to see those two up but May is up now and will get plenty of experience. Another month probably wouldn't have made a difference for 2015.

 

Meyer is a disappointment. No argument there... I would have liked to see him get some MLB starts this season and that looks like it's not going to happen.

[Seth Stohs]

Great topic, Doc!

 

I think that you're right. I think this has been a productive year. I think prospects not named Buxton/Sano have really progressed nicely to this point, and guys like Berrios, Burdi, Reed, and others could be ready late next year. Guys like May, Santana, Vargas, Arcia will get plenty of playing time (experience) the rest of the way. I'd think that Hicks and Pinto come up after Labor Day and get to play a lot. 

 

And now Buxton has a month in AA before likely going to the AFL and then getting to completely rest that wrist. Sano will be ready sometime next year too. Meyer will compete for a job in spring training.

 

They're getting there!

[tobi0040]

I also would have liked to see those two up but May is up now and will get plenty of experience. Another month probably wouldn't have made a difference for 2015.

 

Meyer is a disappointment. No argument there... I would have liked to see him get some MLB starts this season and that looks like it's not going to happen.

 

Another month is 5-6 starts. Seems like that is better than not.  I just don't get the why.  Why does it make sense for those starts to go go anyone but those two?  So for me it is not one decision in a vacuum. It is a thought process.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Another month is 5-6 starts. Seems like that is better than not.  I just don't get the why.  Why does it make sense for those starts to go go anyone but those two?  So for me it is not one decision in a vacuum. It is a thought process.

 

I do not understand the thinking behind Meyer.

 

May is a bit easier to understand. I think he was on the verge of a promotion but then got injured, sat through the AS break, then got rained out... It was a series of unfortunate events that delayed his MLB debut.

[TheLeviathan]

I think drjim has it right, we had a partial transition year with next year sharing the other part. By August/September we may officially be trending up with some good debuts. The caution is a guy like Arcia: tremendous talent but adjustments can take time. We need to be careful not to get too hyperbolic in our expectations just because we have arrivals.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I do not understand the thinking behind Meyer.

 

May is a bit easier to understand. I think he was on the verge of a promotion but then got injured, sat through the AS break, then got rained out... It was a series of unfortunate events that delayed his MLB debut.

I think Millone is to blame on this one. I'm guessing the plan was to bring up Meyer after the trade deadline, but acquiring an ML pitcher eliminated the spot. I think it's for Meyer's best (and the team's best as well) to bring him up in Sept, though I know I'm in the minority here.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I think Millone is to blame on this one. I'm guessing the plan was to bring up Meyer after the trade deadline, but acquiring an ML pitcher eliminated the spot. I think it's for Meyer's best (and the team's best as well) to bring him up in Sept, though I know I'm in the minority here.

 

If they're comfortable moving him to the pen and giving him ~10 innings in September, I'm all for it.

[BK432]

This is a fun topic.

 

The transition has begun. For me, it got delayed too long; somewhat because of Twins FO fault (mediocre pitcher signings, reunion tour, lack of aggressiveness in prospect promotion) and somewhat just plain bad luck (injuries, Mauer).

 

I am excited to see the trades that have happened the last 15 days. The FO (finally) is making a decision to accelerate this transition a bit and get the young guys in the bigs, or at least closer. One could make a realistic argument this should have started with more grit last year at this time; I'm not so sure the timing and circumstances would have benefited the Twins as much as some believe, but this has seemed to take forever.

 

We are starting to see us close in on a core that, even with some things that don't go right (which those things will exist) should have a floor of .500 baseball or even a couple wins better. From there, the money should be PLENTY available to go out and buy a few more wins and make this a potential 90-win team in 2016.

 

I'm looking forward to watching baseball the rest of the year, which is more than I could say last year at this time. So that's something.

[tobi0040]

I think Millone is to blame on this one. I'm guessing the plan was to bring up Meyer after the trade deadline, but acquiring an ML pitcher eliminated the spot. I think it's for Meyer's best (and the team's best as well) to bring him up in Sept, though I know I'm in the minority here.

 

Milone plays a role.  I don't fault them for trading for the guy.   I would favor a Meyer debut in the pen versus no debut at all.  I am guessing one of the five guys gets hurt or needs to go down.

[stringer bell]

I don't necessarily agree with it, but I do see some reason for the "go slow" on Meyer.  I think it has more to do with the shoulder injury last year than anything else.  They are protecting him from excess innings and pitches and that has put him behind May in the permanent promotion pecking order.  I also believe that his status of not being on the 40-man roster may have had something to do with keeping him in Rochester.  I'm pretty sure they didn't want to designate a guy just so that Meyer could have a fill-in start and be optioned back to Rochester.  Also, he has had just enough bad starts for me to believe that, like Gibson, additional AAA time might benefit him.