Article: Twins Lose, Fans Boo, So Hope Remains

[John Bonnes]

For the Twins, the good news was that the fans showed up. They filled Target Field. They overran every establishment in the warehouse district. They turned the Twins home opener into a state holiday. But there was even better news.

 

They booed.

 

It started as groans in the third inning and escalated to scattered heckles in the sixth as outfielders showed their (well known) defensive limitations. And when it got really ugly in the top of the eighth, Twins Territory booed. Lustily. Robustly. Disgustedly.That was a good sign for the Twins. It shows that maybe they haven’t completely lost their fans after four (plus one week) really crummy seasons. But it is a less good sign for the people at the top of that organization who might be facing a crisis in confidence that I never thought I’d see.

 

This offseason, General Manager Terry Ryan and the Twins doled out three guaranteed contracts and raised expectations with talk of being competitive. But their biggest free agent signing, pitcher Ervin Santana, was caught taking performance-enhancing drugs. The reliever Ryan signed, Tim Stauffer, has a 8.10 ERA despite being limited to mop-up duties. And the beloved veteran leader Torii Hunter, who was brought back to shepherd immature talent, is hitting .130 and keeps being burned defensively.

 

It gets worse. Ryan faces all these challenges with a rookie – not just at the big league level but at any level - manager whose team looks inept defensively and, anemic offensively, but at least they have a disastrous bullpen. Today the Twins lost their home opener by more runs than they had ever lost any other home opener. They are already six games back of the Royals in the AL Central - and they’ve only played seven games.

 

But that general stuff isn’t why the fans booed. They booed because the infield failed to turn double plays to get Trevor May out of an inning. The booed because long fly balls to the gap kept falling just out of the reach of the outfielders and because relay throws dribbled untouched through the infield. And they booed watching reliever after reliever be thrown like so much dry oak onto a pyre.

 

In case you’re wondering if it’s time to panic, it certainly is in regard to the Twins bullpen. They don’t have a single right-hander that rookie Manager Paul Molitor can (or should) trust right now, with the possible exception of Casey Fien who says his shoulder is healthy. Even he is not a sure thing, given last season’s late fade, underwhelming spring training and recent missed games. We’ll see. If he’s injured, we’ll also see just how much damage he does before the Twins shut him down.

 

If Fien is healthy, one of the other three right-handers needs to be a sacrificial lamb for Michael Tonkin or Mark Hamburger or Ryan Pressly or Lester Oliveros or whoever. My best guess now would be Pressly, but far more interesting is which reliever (or two) they demote. The correct answer is “Blain Boyer” who offers little in terms of future impact or historical success. Tim Stauffer offers the latter and JR Graham the former, but both in limited doses, so I’m not sure there is a wrong answer here.

 

The tougher problem (and probably less urgent) is what to do about the outfield defense. Oswaldo Arcia and Hunter are not strong defenders as Monday’s game showed, but the Twins had to know what they were getting with both of them, even if they didn’t want to publicly acknowledge it about Hunter. But the corner outfielders’ limitations are exacerbated by center-fielders who are too mediocre to help in the gaps. They’re further inflamed by substitutes who aren’t outfielders and might actually be worse defensively.

 

If Arcia and Hunter can’t be moved around (and doing so would require pressing the panic button) then maybe this team needs to search for an elite defensive center fielder. Perhaps they can work out a way to get Peter Bourjos from the Cardinals. He can’t hit, but neither can Shane Robinson, and Bourjos can at least reach those bouncing balls in the gap before Hunter or Arcia, which didn’t happen today.

 

And finally, there is the lineup. There are several guys who look lost in the tall weeds right now, but the biggest culprit is Hunter. Hunter has been batting cleanup and entered today’s game 0-11 with runners on base, partly because pitchers seem to recognize they don’t need to throw him strikes. Or maybe the culprit is whoever keeps writing Hunter into the lineup right behind Joe Mauer, who entered today with a .417 on-base percentage.

 

There are several more areas that could be dissected; there are certainly several more that were obvious to the vocal fans at Target Field at Monday. It was also obvious that one inning after the boos rained down, the stadium was only one-third filled with an inning left to play. Beyond the twitter snark and blogger treatises and talk radio rants lies a barren, quiet place called Apathy. This Twins season seems to be hurtling toward that arid wasteland. The best news yesterday was that the Twins haven’t reached that destination. Yet.

 

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[big dog]

StubHub has tickets for today's game for as little as $10.50.  Could be a great year to get cheap seats!

 

[Old Twins Cap]

Will be a great year for the casual, disinterested fan to get out on a sunny day and enjoy the atmosphere of a baseball park and watch some of the league's great players--on other teams.

 

Wow, are they bad.  And they look poorly coached.

[Mike Sixel]

Continuing to LIE to your fans, who, btw are not stupid, is bad business, imo. Which is pretty much what Ryan did when he said Hunter was a good defender.

[Halsey Hall]

You can coach and coach and coach, but it won't do a bit of good with a few of these guys.  It's mind blowing the money these guys make to play like this. 

[mdawg888]

At least they have Target Field...No matter how bad they've been the last couple years, I can always justify doling out a few bucks to sit in that palace and watch other teams run roughshod over our squad. 

[hybridbear]

Unfortunately it looks like it will be a long season. Molitor isn't proving himself any better than Gardy at managing his bullpen or lineup. Santana's defense was awful yesterday and Escobar should be starting at SS.

[PeanutsFromHeaven]

 

Beyond the twitter snark and blogger treatises and talk radio rants lies a barren, quiet place called Apathy.

--And that is why I will always read a John Bonnes column.

 

Saddest thing for me, working three blocks from Target Field was walking to my car around the third inning, seeing a pair of fans in give away sweat shirts walking toward the bars on Nicollet and saying "They can't be done yet?" Their response... "The game's not, but we are..."

[HitInAPinch]

With each passing game, the signing of Torii Hunter only looks worse.

[jimmer]

 

With each passing game, the signing of Torii Hunter only looks worse.

ah, another converted soul.

[chopper0080]

To blame Molitor is to ignore a real truth about coaching.  You have to have talent to coach, and the Twins roster does not have talent.  The blame goes on Terry Ryan, and has this whole time.  You can't take 2, 3 and 4 years to retool a team in today's sports, especially when you have very little to show in terms of progress.

 

Ryan either misevaluated where his farm system was at, which is his fault, or he thought that this group of players actually was talented enough to win, which is also his fault.  Any way you cut it, this team is worse than it was during it's first 90 loss season in terms of starting pitching, relief pitching, offense, and defense.  That is a travesty.

 

Good teams, especially those who exceeed expectations, win because of their level of talent.  My issue heading into the season with those who thought we could compete was, we simply don't have the talent to do so.  When we play the Royals, they are almost better at every position on the field than we are.  It is tough to win 3 or 4 game series when this is true for almost every team you play.

Edited April 14, 2015 by chopper0080

[Winston Smith]

When will Teflon Terry start getting some real heat or will St Peter just adjust the marketing?

[spanman2]

This may sound like a simple take but I believe it is a valid one but perhaps not.  Here it goes.  Lets compare our roster to that of say KC/Detroit within the division.  How many guys off of our roster would be either an equal or improvement to players on their respective rosters?  My simple mind is scrambling to think of any beyond the following. Mauer if he has an 'average' Mauer year and Perkins over Nathan.  Take care all.

[twinsnorth49]

 

With each passing game, the signing of Torii Hunter only looks worse.

And Terry Ryan remains the only one surprised.

[chopper0080]

 

When will Teflon Terry start getting some real heat or will St Peter just adjust the marketing?

 

They will adjust the marketing like they have the past 4 seasons.  The laughable part is that I give Terry Ryan more respect than he gives me.  I know he is smart enough to realize the talent that he put on the field this year despite his claims of a roster that can compete.  He knew he was putting an awful product on the field, but he obviosuly doesn't believe his fans are smart enough to see it.  

[chopper0080]

 

And Terry Ryan remains the only one surprised.

 

He isn't.  The Hunter signing was a way to spend money while also placating nostalgic fans.   Another marketing ploy to cover up one of the league least talented rosters.

[Mike Sixel]

Yesterday was a great example of why defensive stats are more useful than earned runs allowed....how many extra outs did KC get? And, in previous games.....how many extra outs? This is why I look at defensive stats, these games this week.

[laloesch]

After watching these first 7 games I haven't hit the panic button just yet, but I'm about too.  I don't have a good feeling about this bunch AT ALL.  We have scrubs in the bullpen, scrubs in the outfield and several scrubs in the rotation. 

 

This team is going NOWHERE real fast.  Judging from what we've seen so far: terrible outfield defense, awful offensive, horrid bullpen blowing games left and right, and mediocre starting pitching at best,  I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if they end up with 100+ loses.  I've watched this team for almost 30 years (certainly not as long as some of the old timers), but this is some of the worst play i've ever seen by Twins and it could get a whole lot UGLIER very quickly.  

 

If the current trend continues Terry Ryan should consider calling up prosects in a few weeks.  By the time the all-star break rolls this team will be so far below .500 that there will be no pressure on anyone the rest of the season other than defacto tryouts for 2016.        

Edited April 14, 2015 by laloesch

[chopper0080]

 

Yesterday was a great example of why defensive stats are more useful than earned runs allowed....how many extra outs did KC get? And, in previous games.....how many extra outs? This is why I look at defensive stats, these games this week.

 

This leads to my biggest question regarding Hicks.  Is he really not better as a fielder than Robinson or Shafer or Hunter?  If not, than he was a bust as a pick and as a prospect.  If he is, than why isn't he on the Twins and working towards a gold glove?

[Mr. Patient]

On the podcast, John and Aaron often talk about how Terry Ryan will never be fired, that he'll have to leave of his own accord. I wonder if a 100-loss season will be enough to accomplish that.  And then I wonder if he'll just be replaced by Rob Antony, and we'll lose another 6-7 years while the rest of the league passes us by in terms of modern team management.

 

I'd like to be able to root for a normal team. Is that so much to ask?

[boomerb5]

Molitor will be (or should be) a one-year manager. He has shown me nothing so far. The team already looks lifeless and lost. Even a bad team should at least look like they think they have a chance for the first month of the season. It was a HUGE mistake to not make Dougie Baseball the manager. He at least seems to care.

[chopper0080]

 

After watching these first 7 games I haven't hit the panic button just yet, but I'm about too.  I don't have a good feeling about this bunch AT ALL.  We have scrubs in the bullpen, scrubs in the outfield and several scrubs in the rotation. 

 

This team is going NOWHERE real fast.  Judging from what we've seen so far: terrible outfield defense, awful offensive, horrid bullpen blowing games left and right, and mediocre starting pitching at best,  I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if they end up with 100+ loses.  I've watched this team for almost 30 years (certainly not as long as some of the old timers), but this is some of the worst play i've ever seen by Twins and it could get a whole lot UGLIER very quickly.  

 

If the current trend continues Terry Ryan should consider calling up prosects in a few weeks.  By the time the all-star break rolls this team will be so far below .500 that there will be no pressure on anyone the rest of the season other than defacto tryouts for 2016.        

 

Why bring up prospects early this year, when you can bring them up later, and then sell their struggles next year as hope during another losing season?

 

Some may see this as a "tin foil hat" arguement, but I am serious.  This team marketed it's farm system development for four years, and Buxton/Sano for three years despite being in A ball.  They are clearly putting all on their eggs in that basket, and so there is no rush to bring those prospects up.  They can do some mid season call ups.  Then sell their success as hope next season, or their struggles as youth next season.  Either way they still sell tickets, and have an excuse why the team is terrible.

[chopper0080]

 

Molitor will be (or should be) a one-year manager. He has shown me nothing so far. The team already looks lifeless and lost. Even a bad team should at least look like they think they have a chance for the first month of the season. It was a HUGE mistake to not make Dougie Baseball the manager. He at least seems to care.

 

I don't believe there is a manager in baseball that could win with this roster.  You have to have talent to coach, and this team doesn't have talent. 

 

No manager can make Hunter 32 instead of 39.

 

No manager can make Arcia a plus outfielder.

 

No manager can make Shafer/Robinson legitimate MLB players.

 

No manager can make nearly our entire bullpen not fringe players.

 

No manager can make Nolasco healthy/interested.

 

No manager can make Santana clean.

 

No manager can make Santana and Vargas not avoid their natural regression.

 

I think Molitor is getting the most he can out of this group of players which speaks to the level of talent on it.

Edited April 14, 2015 by chopper0080

[Mike Sixel]

Way too early, imo, to judge Molitor. Way too early.

[John Bonnes]

A couple of replies to thoughts....

 

Terry Ryan sits down with the media before EVERY game, both in season and in spring training, to answer questions. He may have been wrong about this team, but this was not a lie. 

 

Nor was Hunter "just" a marketing ploy. They thought he had something left in the tank and they hoped he would help with the kids. Unfortunately, the primary kid I think they wanted to help - Hicks - is in Rochester. And Hunter either was not prepared enough (maybe due to it being a homecoming) or slumping or has got old fast. 

 

I will say this - I'm not sure they really understood his defensive shortcomings. I don't know if we'll ever know that. They're not going to trash him, and he's trying out there - he's just failing. They will tell you they are very suspicious of defensive metrics. 

 

This does feel like a crisis from the outside. It feels like they could be on a path where nobody's job is safe. It's very early on that path, but when a team is 1-6 and is playing even worse baseball than that represents, just about anything is in play. 

 

I will add some optimistic notes:

- I don't believe this team is as bad as they are showing right now.

- Trevor May showed some real resilience yesterday.

- A really bad start could mean a lot of prospects a lot sooner than we planned. 

- If the Twins really wanted to fix the OF defense, they have a highly prized centerfielder in AA right now whose defense draws rave reviews.

- The bullpen fixes could (and should) come quickly. 

[Kwak]

 

Yesterday was a great example of why defensive stats are more useful than earned runs allowed....how many extra outs did KC get? And, in previous games.....how many extra outs? This is why I look at defensive stats, these games this week.

Poor defense? Yes, but 2 HBP and a bases-loaded walk in the 8th--there's no defense in the world that can save that pitching.

[John Bonnes]

One more, regarding Molitor:

 

It's obviously way too early to judge any manager in the first week of a season. That is obvious. 

 

But this team does not look prepared. And form the outside, it appears that he should get as much heat for the final roster decisions as Terry Ryan. There was a lot of talk in ST about how he and Ryan were on the same page with those. 

[Vanimal46]

Can the Twins break a record for largest deficit in attendance in game #2 of the home stand? Looks like it was a sell-out, or near sell-out yesterday. Now that home opener nostalgia has worn off, will even half the seats be filled tomorrow?

[mobeck]

This is a team with ZERO leadership. Neither the coaching staff, nor the veterans seem to give a damn how the team is playing. The Twins are a major league baseball team. Its a privilege to get to play at this level. I sit and watch guys work their tails off here in Cedar Rapids hoping for a chance to move up, but when I turn on FSN to watch a Twins game, all I see are guys who commute to work each morning to collect their paycheck.

 

The Twins don't have a single name on their roster you could use to convince someone to check out a Twins game.

- 'Hey, come check out the newest exhibit of natural history, Torii Hunter'

- 'Want to go see a Twins game? Remember Joe Mauer, the leagues best offensive catcher? He's now a mediocre at best first baseman with the tenacity of pocket lint!'

- 'We have a designated hitter that kind of looks like David Ortiz!!'

The only thing that could convince me to go to a game at Target field this year is the possibility of running into Marney Gellner or Jamie Hersch.

 

Something has to change and soon. We've been told to just wait while players develop into their roles in the majors for the last five years. The only thing that has developed in that five years is a culture of mediocrity.

[Mike Sixel]

John, you think that smart baseball people really thought Hunter wasn't a bad defender? Or, what? 

 

I don't think Ryan is a liar....I think he lied about that thing. Those are very different things, btw.

 

I understand not everyone agrees with me, and think that honest people never lie, but we all know that's not true. You can be a great human, and sometimes not tell the truth. I think that was the case here. Others disagree, but in no way am I saying Ryan is a bad human being. It is clear, from the likes, that some people do agree with me. Much like not believing they believed they'd be competitive last year, or play meaningful games in the fall, the year before, or any of the other things they've said about much of this team the last two years. 

 

I respect Ryan, I did not respect that answer, that action. I don't know how anyone  an not see the distinction.