Article: Twins Lose, Fans Boo, So Hope Remains

[Buford_T_Justice]

Terry Ryan is just secretly trying to recreate the movie Major League in 2016.

 

Joe Mauer as Jake  Taylor

Alex Meyer as Wild Thing Rick Vaughn

Bryan Buxton as Willie Mays Hayes

Miguel Sano as Pedro Cerrano

Brian Dozier as Roger Dorn

 

Paul Molitor as Lou Brown

Holy crap, you're right! Maybe TR's retirement plan is to get a reality show on TLC.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

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. 

absolutely damning of the whole front office.... If Hunter was "just" a marketing ploy, I'd give TR more credit than not knowing Hunter was well past done 2 years ago or more.

As far as Molitor goes, of course the team looks unprepared, it's a whole new coaching staff and a rookie manager who's never managed a day in his life, it's not his fault any more than it is Hunter's. Offer me 10 million (or 1 million) to look like a fool, I'd put on the big floppy shoes and clown nose too. I don't think Hunter or Moli wants to be a clown, but for Hunter the money is very persuasive, and Moli, you can't help but listen when everyone says you're a baseball genius.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Hicks is looking like he wants to be back in Minny.  Another triple tonight and an OF assist.

 

Probably more fun in Rochester but the pays a lot better in the TC.

true enough, he's probably the best option for the Twins until Buxton is ready, he's just not good enough to be an every day big leaguer. Maybe he could've been had he not been the sacrificial lamb. Now? Ick. I hope he proves me wrong, but man, just lost in the bigs

[whitsbrain]

 

Hicks is looking like he wants to be back in Minny.  Another triple tonight and an OF assist.

 

Probably more fun in Rochester but the pays a lot better in the TC.

Um...I watched him strike out from the right side on three consecutive at-bats Sunday against Buffalo.  But I guess he can catch the ball if he happens to be in the mood.

[whitsbrain]

 

Re: the Hunter signing...

I believe it was about 75% marketing and 25% of Terry Ryan's nostalgia and wistfulness...
 

I'd say Hunter is 100% about marketing.  I don't even know where to begin about how pathetic it was yesterday watching the FSN broadcast repeatedly replay Kevin Garnett throwing the first pitch to Hunter.  By my count, they showed it four times.  Even my son scoffed at it after the third time.  It's all about the hype.  They even brought in Tyus Jones.

 

It's the same thing with the prospects.  Buxton and Sano are going to have to hit good breaking balls in the minors before they are going to win the Twins another World Series  ::roll eyes::  Yet they are all we hear about.

 

I'm not sure who is buying into this.  I am a baseball fan and I have always followed the Twins, so I can't ignore them no matter how bad they are.

 

Actually, I'm pretty certain that the majority of Minnesota sports "fans" have next to no idea, understanding or care about the product on the ballpark/field/court, etc..  They seem most concerned about saying "I was there when...".  This season, enter Hunter.

 

This also explains why Target Field has been filled for the first few years.  When Minnesota residents see or hear that it isn't really "the place to be" anymore, there will be thousands upon thousands of empty seats.  Everyone will be back at "da' lake" or "up nort'" again.  That time probably starts now.

 

But they'll be back once they find out the Twins are a hot property again, looking for T-shirt and bobble-head giveaways. 

 

[USAFChief]

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.

 

Concur.

 

They have not looked like a team ready for a big league season, regardless the talent level. Not ready to compete.

[alskntwnsfn]

Before the season I posted that this team probably had the worst bullpen in baseball. I know it wasn't a priority, but dammit, there is no excuse for it.

[chuchadoro]

 

Sure that plays into it. But more than that, he's just been flat out brutal since joining the team. A 5.38 ERA last year, large # of walks allowed, and throwing meat balls down the middle (like Moonshot Scott Baker) isn't going to win over any fan base.

 

Plus... the $11.5 million pay check for mediocrity doesn't sit well either.

 

Nolasco was mediocre in his time in the NL. "Craptacular" (or FatCrapps-tacular if you're so inclined) is probably a more fitting adjective. $11.5m/yr sure can buy you a bunch of white Lambos, though.

[theBOMisthebomb]

I am battling this now, been a fan (at 8 yrs.old in1961) of the Twins and have no reason to spend my money on the lack of desire/discipline/knowledge of this current team. I was not for Molitor to manage, but had hope.

 

I am losing that hope.... starting to look like a bunch of over paid has been/don't matter players!

 

Shame on them and the Twins, after getting their new home park, thanks to us fans

Agreed. It is hard not to feel taken advantage of as a Twins fan since the new ballpark came along. Weren't we going to remain competitive and sign legitimate free agents now? Feels like we have been sold a bill of goods. The big FA signings have been underwhelming overall.

[HitInAPinch]

 

I think a lot like the Hughes extension based on ONE great season he had with us.  Will they like it if he goes back to being the NY Hughes?

 

Recently [ last week, the week before?? ] Hughes said what I've always said about his record, good year, bad year.  And it was always good year [ highest innings to date [cough, cough. overused. ] followed by bad year.  Someone in the front office should have notice this.

[JB_Iowa]

As I understand it, the Twins used the same basic spring training plan as in the past -- with just a few tweeks.  They were again one of the last to begin, I believe.

 

Perhaps they need to revamp those plans.

[SwainZag]

 

Recently [ last week, the week before?? ] Hughes said what I've always said about his record, good year, bad year.  And it was always good year [ highest innings to date [cough, cough. overused. ] followed by bad year.  Someone in the front office should have notice this.

 

If a pitcher is healthy and pitching well, starting 32 games and going 209 innings is not overuse IMO.  He started 29+ games in 3 of the previous 4 seasons.  There are far more things to be concerned other than Hughes right now.

[chopper0080]

 

If a pitcher is healthy and pitching well, starting 32 games and going 209 innings is not overuse IMO.  He started 29+ games in 3 of the previous 4 seasons.  There are far more things to be concerned other than Hughes right now.

Agreed, though I am worried about why our front office decided to extend Hughes when they had him signed to a pretty cheap, multi year, contract already.  That is money that could have been spent elsewhere.  Same question with Dozier.  Two signs that point to an office trying to look like they are spending rather than making smart financial business decisions.

[SwainZag]

 

Agreed, though I am worried about why our front office decided to extend Hughes when they had him signed to a pretty cheap, multi year, contract already.  That is money that could have been spent elsewhere.  Same question with Dozier.  Two signs that point to an office trying to look like they are spending rather than making smart financial business decisions.

 

The extra year for Hughes was a little puzzling to me just because of the timing, though I don't mind the Dozier extension.  I do think the Dozier extension points to the front office seeing him improving on his season from the previous 2 years.

[chopper0080]

 

The extra year for Hughes was a little puzzling to me just because of the timing, though I don't mind the Dozier extension.  I do think the Dozier extension points to the front office seeing him improving on his season from the previous 2 years.

Didn't they have 3 aribtration years availabel with Dozier though?  Why not pay as you go while you can, and then make the deal with the progress of your farm system in mind?

 

I agree that he earned a raise, but I just don't understand the business reasoning behind giving up so many arbitation years with a roster as bad as this is.

[HitInAPinch]

 

If a pitcher is healthy and pitching well, starting 32 games and going 209 innings is not overuse IMO.  He started 29+ games in 3 of the previous 4 seasons.  There are far more things to be concerned other than Hughes right now.

Look at his record starting with his 1st season as a full time started.  Every year after his career record high in innings, he's had a bad year.

 

W L ERA, Games Starts Innings

 

18 8   4.19 31 29 176.1  <-------   @ NY 2010

5 5     5.79 17 14   74.2

16 13 4.19 32 32 191.1

4 14   5.19 30 29 145.2

16 10 3.52 32 32 209.2  <--------@ MN 2014

 

As I said in the original post, in reference to the new contract for Hughs, Twins management should have known this and not run him out there last year just to get his 16th win.

Edited April 15, 2015 by HitInAPinch

[SwainZag]

 

Look at his record starting with his 1st season as a full time started.  Every year after his career record high in innings, he's had a bad year.

 

W L ERA, Games Starts Innings

 

18 8   4.19 31 29 176.1  <-------   @ NY 2010

5 5     5.79 17 14   74.2

16 13 4.19 32 32 191.1

4 14   5.19 30 29 145.2

16 10 3.52 32 32 209.2  <--------@ MN 2014

 

As I said in the original post, in reference to the new contract for Hughs, Twins management should have known this and not run him out there last year just to get his 16th win.

 

In this regard would it have really mattered? You could have still brought up this stat with him having 202 IP and a career season without his last start.