Article: Twins Can Pull Plenty From World Series

[Ted Schwerzler]

The day after the World Series comes to a close may be one of the saddest in baseball. With the realization that the offseason has officially commenced, it's time to buckle in for the winter. For the Twins, 2016 represents tet start of what should be a renewed run of playoff contention. To accomplish that, modeling after both World Series teams seems to be a good starting place.In taking a top-down view at both the New York Mets and Kansas City Royals, both teams have relatively apparent strengths. For the Mets, it is no doubt a pitching staff of fireballers that could all be regarded as true aces. From Harvey to Syndergaard, and those in between, the Mets don't miss a beat. The reigning NL Rookie of the Year isn't their number one, and Zack Wheeler didn't factor in at all during 2015. It's safe to say the Mets are plenty strong in the pitching department.

 

Then you have the Royals, and their foundation built on creating havoc and sustaining leads. A lineup full of guys that simply put the ball in play, backed by a bullpen that doesn't surrender runs. While Ned Yost isn't always the cleanest in his execution, it's the combination of putting pressure on the opposition while breathing easy with a lead that makes his club dangerous.

 

For Minnesota, Paul Molitor and Terry Ryan have yet to achieve either of those teams qualities thus far. There's no doubt the Twins lineup has been given a boost with the emergence of young stars, but the fact remains that there are some significant holes. On the mound, both starting pitching and relief work pale in comparison to the World Series finalists.

 

The rotation is composed of more good-not-great types; the Twins don't project to be like the Mets on the bump any time soon. Owning one of the worst bullpens in baseball this past season, Minnesota knew a lead was never safe. Despite a strong first half from closer Glen Perkins, there were apparent deficiencies from the get go. For the Twins to turn the corner, taking bits and pieces from the two November squads would be a good start.

 

Looking at what the Twins should have in the rotation to start 2016, not much will change. Jose Berrios or Trevor May could be added into the group, but at least at the start, a true ace doesn't appear to be on the horizon. While every team would love to have a go-to number one, Minnesota has to look no further than the Royals to see that isn't necessary. Getting quality outings on a nightly basis to keep you in games is much more sustainable. Fixing the bullpen makes that strategy much more workable.

 

In trying to copy the offensive production of both squads, ironing out a more complete lineup has to be a goal. Adding players who can advance the order, Paul Molitor would have plenty more tools to work with. The Royals created runs on the basepaths and by protecting the zone. The Mets took the approach of the longball and working counts. While no doubt Kansas City's plan of attack is more sustainable, both approaches (with complete lineups), should produce positive results.

 

At this point, the Twins can effectively rule out being either the Royals or the Mets. What they can do however, is focus on what they do and don't want to emulate. Building a stronger bullpen, while filling out a complete lineup is a good start. Having a more advanced defense than New York, it's not out of line to suggest the Twins can put together something plenty special on their own.

 

Only two teams advance to the series that matters most each year, but in watching it unfold, the Twins learn to make the necessary tweaks to draw much nearer.

 

For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

 

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[Seth Stohs]

Call me Old School if you want, but I hate excessive strikeouts. It was really fun watching the Royals in the playoffs because they just don't want to strikeout. I love that mentality. Put the ball in play, be aggressive. Walks are wonderful, but if you know the strike zone, get strikes and attack it. 

 

I like a good, selective hitter too, but it's much, much more fun to watch batters swing the bat.

 

But yeah... the Mets were all about their starters. The Royals got solid starting and let the bullpen dominate. 

 

Lots to learn.

[dbminn]

Watching the Royals just magnifies the reasons why Arcia isn't an answer in the outfield. Poor defense and massive strikeout rate for a team that already strikes out too much compared to power output.

 

And, as much as I would like to see Trevor May start, I think he's more valuable in the bullpen, given the existing starting rotation and lack of ready relief pitching. Hopefully, some of the young bullpen arms will be ready by mid-year, putting May back in the rotation by 2017.

[Kwak]

I concur  with everything you said until "...putting May back into the rotation...".  May has consistently short starts and comparatively ranks behind the rest of the rotation--in short the Twins have better starters than May.  But, May could be a consistently very good relief pitcher (which could not be said of some of the starters).  The Twins require six full innings from the rotation else their bullpen will be shredded in the Summer;  May all too often is gone before the end of the sixth inning.  More good news--there are even more good options for the rotation coming soon, so there is no need to "settle".  KC has clearly demonstrated the value of a top-notch bullpen, so it's not like May isn't fully utilized in the bullpen.

 

I reflect on how KC built this winner.  First they made a statement that they would spend to build a competitive team.  Gil Meche may not sound like much to Twins fans, but he (at $11MM/year) represented a huge change for KC at the time.  The Twins finally matched that change with the acquisition of:  Hughes, Nolasco, E. Santana, and Hunter--the Twins would spend to eliminate their  losing.  So far, so good.  Both teams have drafted early for "hoped for" top prospects.  KC's are there (well, they did start earlier), Minnesota is still "building and waiting" for most of their prospects.  But KC, went farther--which the Twins typically never do--trade top prospects for proven veterans (James, Cueto and Zobrist) to win now.  Time will tell with the Twins.

[jimbo92107]

Loved the improvements in the 2015 Twins, but they're a long way from the overall quality of both teams I saw in the World Series. Still, a couple of years could make a huge difference, with power arms like Burdi and Reed coming up, more good starters on the way, and with Stewart and Garver as possible good catchers. Somewhere between 2017 and 2020, the Twins might be ready to make a serious run. They might even make the playoffs in 2016, but they can't take the Royals without a much better pitching staff. 

[Don Walcott]

I don't agree that the Twins can look to the Royals as an example for why they shouldn't go out and get an Ace this off-season.  Cueto is at least top-5 in the majors over the past two years, and led the league in Ks and IP last year, 2.25 ERA in 243 innings, and was #2 in Cy voting behind only Kershaw.  Cueto's an Ace.  Although there were times Cueto did not pitch well, he was also the only threat to finish a game or even finish 8.  Having that kind of pitcher is important.

 

It is true that Cueto didn't join until the end of July.  But the Royals needed him down the stretch and in the playoffs.

 

The year before, they had Shields.  He's not as good as Cueto, but he also can go deep into games consistently.  He tossed 227 innings, going 62/3 innings per start and received MVP votes.  The prior season he led the league in innings and received Cy Young votes.

 

Having a starter who can go deep into games consistently helps keep the bullpen fresh as well.  Last season, the Twins bullpen had no respite.  And I don't think you can count on Santana or Hughes to consistently pitch deep into games like an Ace should.

 

What the Twins could do to replicate the Royals' success is turn decent starters, like May and Hughes, into top shelf relievers.  If we can sign one of the big 4 free agent starters this off-season, we can shore up the bullpen and have a top-tier starting rotation -- e.g. (Cueto, Zimmermann, Price or Greinke), Santana, Gibson, Duffey, Berrios.  That's the upgrade I want to see.

[jimmer]

Another thing about KC: They put emphasis on defense. Awesome defense helps the pitching staff and saves runs. They realize this is important to winning.

[Blackjack]

The Twins are a year or three away, they need to let the young guys develop and THEN  go out and make that big trade or free agent signing, Probably for a top of the line pitcher.  Trading for Shields was huge for them!!! It showed them the grit needed to win!!! (side note, do you suppose Shields is kicking himself for signing elsewhere???!)

[Blackjack]

I'm amazed that there aren't more  comments on this article!!! There are 18 dozen ideas floating around in various posts about Twins deficiencies and possible trades but no one wants to jump in and say how the Twins compare to the Royals...

 

Puzzling.

[Thrylos]

 

Call me Old School if you want, but I hate excessive strikeouts.

 

Agreed.    Speaking of old school, here are the K% leaders of the 1987 Twins:

 

Billy Beane 40.0 %
Tim Laudner 25.2 %
Don Baylor 20.7 %
Tom Nieto 19.8 %
Greg Gagne 17.5 %
Tom Brunansky  16.9 %
Mark Davidson 15.4 %
Roy Smalley  14.9 %
Dan Gladden 14.9 %

 

Not sure what Mark Davidson has been doing (Gags was coaching High School for a while), but looks like high K% back then would get you at least a  coaching or a manager position these days, potentially a GM (if you suck enough) but certainly a broadcaster job

 

(*from the department or irrelevant statistics)

Edited November 6, 2015 by Thrylos