Article: Resiliency Defines 2015 Minnesota Twins

[Nick Nelson]

This season for the Twins started on just about the flattest note possible. The club's prized free agency acquisition was nailed for steroids and suspended for half the year three days before the opener, then the team went 1-6 in its first week of games, getting outscored 45-16 by division rivals in the process.

 

Few would have guessed that almost six months later, the Twins would be angling for a playoff spot with a win total in the 80s.The Twins are enjoying their best season in half a decade and hanging with the big boys even though their roster doesn't exactly stack up to the teams they're racing against.

 

The Astros are led by likely Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel and Rookie of the Year shoe-in Carlos Correa. They're a Top 5 American League offense in OPS and they lead the league in team ERA.

 

The Angels, while less impressive on paper than Houston, are anchored by two-time reigning MVP Mike Trout and have gotten 38 homers from Albert Pujols. Their rotation features an assortment of youthful standouts such as Garrett Richards, Hector Santiago and Andrew Heaney.

 

The Twins, meanwhile, have gotten subpar production from nearly all of their highest-paid players, haven't had a significantly above-average starter in the rotation (excepting Tyler Duffey's late-season performance) and have endured instability in the bullpen all year.

 

Yet they're going to finish in the top half of the AL in wins, and they're still clinging to legitimate postseason hopes with six games remaining.

 

I don't know how to quantify or explain it, but the resiliency that this Twins team has shown again and again has been a defining factor in their success.

 

It started with the rebound from that horrible start. Following the 1-6 run to open the year, the Twins won three straight and 31 of their next 46 to move 11 games above .500 by early June. It was a remarkable turnaround and there have been several tribulations in the months since then that they have been able to overcome.

 

Remember that deflating four-game series in Kansas City back in early July where the Twins – within four games of first place at the time – had a chance to sweep but instead took two losses on 10th-inning walk-offs? Maybe not, because they immediately bounced back to take six of seven at home against the Orioles and Tigers.

 

How about that heartbreaking sweep at Yankee Stadium in August that included a gut-punch grand slam from A-Rod? The Twins followed that series by winning six straight games and four straight series.

 

More recently, there was the five-game slide at Target Field in mid-September that seemingly sucked every trace of wind from the team's sails. All they did was take six of their next eight to climb right back into the playoff picture.

 

Even on an individual level, we've seen this propensity for overcoming adversity. There are plenty of examples within the past few weeks alone.

 

Glen Perkins, amidst a brutal stretch and coming off perhaps his low point in Detroit, entered with a two-run lead against Cleveland on Monday night and gave up a hard-hit leadoff single on an 0-2 count, creating a "Here we go again" type of feeling. Then he struck out two straight hitters and escaped the inning unscathed.

 

Phil Hughes, battling back issues and decreased velocity, followed up his worst start as a Twin with a huge performance last week against the Indians, navigating his way through five scoreless innings.

 

And Tommy Milone, who was needed to replace an ill Hughes as emergency starter in a crucial game on Monday, shook off two rotten outings to deliver a strong performance and pick up a win.

 

The resilient quality that we have consistently seen from this year's Twins team really differentiates them in my mind from Ron Gardenhire's squads over the past four years. During that era, bad losses turned into losing streaks, and losing streaks turned into extended spells of misery. If you want to see how those teams reacted to getting knocked down, take a look at their records in August and September. As cliche as it sounds, Gardy's late-tenure groups really didn't seem to have much fight in them.

 

Regardless of what happens over the next five days, no one will be able to say that about the 2015 Twins, and to me, that's an extremely encouraging sign for a youth-led team overseen by a first-year manager.

 

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[blairpaul715]

It is encouraging, but also reminds us that 2016 is no given as far as being anything more than around an 85 win team, of course, all depending on health and offseason acquisitions.........as constituted we are a Jekyll and Hyde kind of team.

[Platoon]

The thought Blair expressed above has nagged me for weeks. Everyone, me included expects this team to be markedly better next year. But why? This off season will give us a rare chance to build an excellent team for the future. But it's going to take some aggressive moves, a little imagination, spending some of the bosses money, and saying goodbye to some sacred cows and probably a young outfielder. Will it happen? Or will there be a weeping and knashing of teeth across the frozen tundra?

[ThejacKmp]

Unfair to say that about Gardy since his late 2000s teams were insanely resilient. The teams of the past 4 years just weren't very good. No amount of resiliency overcomes PJ Walters being your #3 starter in August.

[Circus Boy]

Be nice to shock the baseball world and play extra baseball in October. We're given only a 5 percent chance to get it done. But as Mr. Nelson points out, the numbers have been against us all year. Play ball!

[JaleelWhite FanClub]

Resiliency in 2015 + Minor moves this offseason = Fall back to Earth in 2016.

 

I agree with the posters above. The Twins can't rely on this type of season happening again with the same roster. I'm thinking one big move to improve at catcher and the early promotions of Berrios and Kepler might give the team the boost it needs. Rochester will have talent in reserve in the form of power (Arcia, ABW II), relief (Meyer, Petersen, Burdi, Chargois), interesting pieces (D. Hicks, Harrison, Turner), and Jorge Polanco ready to supplement the MLB roster later in the season. I can also see Vargas and Santana starting in AAA as well depending if they or someone with the Twins haven't been moved.

 

No matter what, it feels good to head into the offseason following a season like this, unexplainable as it is.

[Old Twins Cap]

Gardy's best teams had good players, especially on offense and just enough pitching to make the playoffs.  But, they were not particularly resilient when it came to the post-season and, in fact, played hand-maiden to the Yanks far more than I care to remember. 

 

Be great to somehow make it to Yankee Stadium next week and reverse a lot of bad baseball karma.  Resilience = rising from the grave.

[DaveW]

Yeah, that Gardy led team that was 3 games out of the playoffs with 4 games left in the season had no fight in them whatsoever.....

 

Timely pitching, timely hitting and Miguel Sano have gotten the Twins to this point.

[Nick Nelson]

 

Yeah, that Gardy led team that was 3 games out of the playoffs with 4 games left in the season had no fight in them whatsoever.....

 

"As cliche as it sounds, Gardy's late-tenure groups really didn't seem to have much fight in them."

[DaveW]

 

"As cliche as it sounds, Gardy's late-tenure groups really didn't seem to have much fight in them."

It's very cliche then, it had nothing to do with "fight" and everything to do with tossing out a lineup half full of replacement level players and a pitching staff full of them.

 

Gardy won 5 division titles in like 8 years, I'm not sure why you needed to take a pot shot at him in an article about the 2015 Twins. People seem to forget that Gardy was once considered one of the best 2 or 3 managers in the game and will be back in the majors again in 2016 as a head skipper.

 

[TheLeviathan]

 

It's very cliche then, it had nothing to do with "fight" and everything to do with tossing out a lineup half full of replacement level players and a pitching staff full of them.

 

Gardy won 5 division titles in like 8 years, I'm not sure why you needed to take a pot shot at him in an article about the 2015 Twins. People seem to forget that Gardy was once considered one of the best 2 or 3 managers in the game and will be back in the majors again in 2016 as a head skipper.

 

Gardy...is that you?  It'd make a whole hell of a lot of sense on a number of fronts if it is

[TheLeviathan]

What this season does is give the Twins all the reasons in the world to be aggressive about their chances in 2016.  

 

Let's see if the GM does that whenever this pleasant ride is over.

[SwainZag]

 

The thought Blair expressed above has nagged me for weeks. Everyone, me included expects this team to be markedly better next year. But why? This off season will give us a rare chance to build an excellent team for the future. But it's going to take some aggressive moves, a little imagination, spending some of the bosses money, and saying goodbye to some sacred cows and probably a young outfielder. Will it happen? Or will there be a weeping and knashing of teeth across the frozen tundra?

 

I wouldn't say that I expect the team to be markedly better, but there are a lot of good signs going forward.  You have Sano, Rosario, Duffey and Buxton with some experience under their belts going into their 2nd seasons.  They should have Santana pitched a full season. You have a very good pitcher in Berrios that should be with the Twins at some point and we very well might see Kepler who dominated AA this season.   A bullpen with just Perkins, Jepsen and May is already better than what they started with this year.  Detroit will not be as good and not to mention the Royals will lose Gordon and Cueto.  

 

I do think there was a luck factor this season, especially early in the year and sure the Twins might not be better next year, but overall I would take the squad going into next season, 10/10 times over the one they had going into this one.  The only way I don't see them improving is if a combo of Dozier/Plouffe/Rosario/Sano regress heavily and injuries play a part.

 

Then again, I might just be overly optimistic.

[DaveW]

 

I wouldn't say that I expect the team to be markedly better, but there are a lot of good signs going forward.  You have Sano, Rosario, Duffey and Buxton with some experience under their belts going into their 2nd seasons.  They should have Santana pitched a full season. You have a very good pitcher in Berrios that should be with the Twins at some point and we very well might see Kepler who dominated AA this season.   A bullpen with just Perkins, Jepsen and May is already better than what they started with this year.  Detroit will not be as good and not to mention the Royals will lose Gordon and Cueto.  

 

I do think there was a luck factor this season, especially early in the year and sure the Twins might not be better next year, but overall I would take the squad going into next season, 10/10 times over the one they had going into this one.  The only way I don't see them improving is if a combo of Dozier/Plouffe/Rosario/Sano regress heavily and injuries play a part.

 

Then again, I might just be overly optimistic.

Yeah, not a lot of guys are really due for regression, maybe Escobar? which is key.

Hicks, Rosario, Buxton, Sano, May, Berrios, Duffey, Santana, Hughes should contribute more next year due to expierence and/or playing time.

 

It has the makings of a 90-92 win team, especially if they can fix catching and the bullpen a bit.

[IndyTwinsFan]

 

What this season does is give the Twins all the reasons in the world to be aggressive about their chances in 2016.  

 

Let's see if the GM does that whenever this pleasant ride is over.

I agree with the sentiment.   Let's hope and pray that TR has the intestinal fortitude (and maybe Pohlad money, too) to do something that will build upon what seemed to finally take root this season.   Strengthening the bullpen and upgrading the catcher position would be good for starters, at a minimum.

[DaveW]

 

I agree with the sentiment.   Let's hope and pray that TR has the intestinal fortitude (and maybe Pohlad money, too) to do something that will build upon what seemed to finally take root this season.   Strengthening the bullpen and upgrading the catcher position would be good for starters, at a minimum.

Agreed, and then find a way to package some of the cost affordable mid rotation guys (Gibson, Milone) and some prospects to bring in an ace type to lead the rotation.

[IndyTwinsFan]

 

Agreed, and then find a way to package some of the cost affordable mid rotation guys (Gibson, Milone) and some prospects to bring in an ace type to lead the rotation.

Well put, Dave!

[blairpaul715]

 

Agreed, and then find a way to package some of the cost affordable mid rotation guys (Gibson, Milone) and some prospects to bring in an ace type to lead the rotation.

I definitely like this idea, give us some target ideas??

[DaveW]

I definitely like this idea, give us some target ideas??

Big game james shields?

 

Iwakuma seems like a nice target as well, I believe he has one more year left on his contract? Mariners could use a bat like arcia and a guy like polanco maybe as well?

 

Jose Fernandez would be a pipe dream type but the price would be insanely sky high.

[blairpaul715]

 

Big game james shields?

Iwakuma seems like a nice target as well, I believe he has one more year left on his contract? Mariners could use a bat like arcia and a guy like polanco maybe as well?

Jose Fernandez would be a pipe dream type but the price would be insanely sky high.

If we are going to do something like this, I like the 2 for 1 pitcher exchange as we seem to be doing ok in the starting pitcher depth department.......but if we do, and it is someone under a long term deal, it is for 3 yrs or less.

[jimmer]

Iwakuma is going to be a FA after this season.

[DaveW]

Iwakuma is a FA after this season apparently. Oops

 

Other guys I would look at: Matt Moore, Stephen Strausburg.

[jimmer]

We have a lot of starting pitcher depth but no #1s or #2s (and our #3 types are iffy)..  Every time I read about our starting pitching depth I have flashbacks of what was being said about our rotation prior to 2011.