Remaining schedule

[Badsmerf]

This season might get ugly. The only team not trying to push into the playoffs are the white Sox. This could be a 100 loss team after all. They only need to go 14-18, but that is going to be very difficult. Even worse, the light at the end of the tunnel has dimmed considerably. This decade may go down as the worst in franchise history, unless you count the 50's with Washington.

[ashbury]

This decade may go down as the worst in franchise history, unless you count the 50's with Washington.

The nineteen-aughts weren't too darn good. They lost 110 TWICE, and in a relatively shorter season length. Their best finish in that decade was their first, in 1901, 6th place of 8, .459 pct, 20.5 games back.

 

The 50s by comparison were a golden era - they broke even a couple of times.

[AlwaysinModeration]

The rotation anchored by Dean, Albers and Santiago doesn't fill you with optimism?

[Halsey Hall]

Might get ugly?

[glunn]

Ugly may take us to #1 pick and maybe the new management will pick someone great.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

At least no one will accuse me of just jumping on the band wagon...

 

Go Twins!

[Platoon]

The rotation anchored by Dean, Albers and Santiago doesn't fill you with optimism?

Chief doesn't get up this early, so "Yes"!

[Platoon]

Might get ugly, denotes the possibility. We have surpassed that level, actually I think it was in the second week of April.

[Craig Arko]

So, you're saying we've been through the soft part of the schedule now, yes?

[theBOMisthebomb]

It would have been nice to see some end of season fight and growth from the young guys. Now it appears we might just fold up the tents. It's a lost opportunity to make some progress in a low pressure situation.

[ashbury]

It would have been nice to see some end of season fight and growth from the young guys.

The pitching has been bad, but I have liked the offense's performance at times, both in getting leads when the outcome is in doubt, and in chipping away at large deficits. The former tells me it's not only when the pressure is off, the latter tells me they aren't just laying down. They've scored more than plenty to come away with some wins. And as for the pitching, I do not see a reason to believe anyone is going through the motions, but more of an epidemic of poor command; and the guy who is most comfortable financially^* is the one doing the best.

 

_{^* Among those not on the DL}

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

The rotation anchored by Dean, Albers and Santiago doesn't fill you with optimism?

"Anchored" is an appropriate word for a rotation that's drowning.

[Doomtints]

At the start of the season it looked like 2016 would beat the 1982 season (60-102) as the worst year since being in Minnesota.  Then the team improved and it looked possible that they would hit 70 wins.

 

With a little over a month left and with 11 wins needed to get to 60, and with the way the pitching has been this month, we are again looking at the possibility of this being the worst season of the franchise.  11 wins in 5 weeks should not be impossible but with this team it might be.  Right now it seems like 11 wins is near the best-case.

 

I'm wondering what caused things to unravel so quickly again?  The Twins were rolling very well for about a month to a month and a half.  Why did the pitching staff give up so suddenly and completely?  This is different from the losing streaks to start the season, where they couldn't hit the ball.  Now they are hitting but they can't pitch.

[jimmer]

Eventually teams, like players, revert back to what they are.

[ashbury]

At the start of the season it looked like 2016 would beat the 1982 season (60-102) as the worst year since being in Minnesota. 

Coming off the first .500 season in years, it was difficult to find anyone on TD forecasting fewer than 70 wins for the 2016 edition of the team. You were on the record for 59 or less?

[Doomtints]

 

Coming off the first .500 season in years, it was difficult to find anyone on TD forecasting fewer than 70 wins for the 2016 edition of the team. You were on the record for 59 or less?

 

No.  I'm talking about after the first few weeks.

 

I had a gut feeling that they were not going to be good, but I went ahead and predicted they would land similarly to last year.

[ashbury]

No.  I'm talking about after the first few weeks.

 

I had a gut feeling that they were not going to be good, but I went ahead and predicted they would land similarly to last year.

OK, so after the start, not at the start. A few weeks = 10% in. You can see where I misunderstood you.

 

I got pretty good at spotting the eventual also-rans in the various Olympic events, 10% of the way in.

[Doomtints]

 

OK, so after the start, not at the start. A few weeks = 10% in. You can see where I misunderstood you.

 

I got pretty good at spotting the eventual also-rans in the various Olympic events, 10% of the way in.

 

To be quite honest, when the Twins dropped Carlos Quentin I figured they had shot themselves in the foot.  They were going all youth and the veterans on the team don't have a track record of being able to mentor.

 

I was still as surprised as anybody when the entire team forgot how to hit for 6-8 weeks after that.  The Twins would still not be great, but Quentin would have produced better than Arcia and sometimes hits are contagious.  I think most of us would take knockkng-on-.500 over what we have now.  

[TheLeviathan]

Are we allowed to forfeit on the basis of not enough competent pitching?  I mean, who would argue that?

[theBOMisthebomb]

The pitching has been bad, but I have liked the offense's performance at times, both in getting leads when the outcome is in doubt, and in chipping away at large deficits. The former tells me it's not only when the pressure is off, the latter tells me they aren't just laying down. They've scored more than plenty to come away with some wins. And as for the pitching, I do not see a reason to believe anyone is going through the motions, but more of an epidemic of poor command; and the guy who is most comfortable financially^* is the one doing the best.

 

_{^* Among those not on the DL}

I should have been more specific and connected the comments to this most recent losing streak. They looked legit in July into early August per my memory.

[Kwak]

 

To be quite honest, when the Twins dropped Carlos Quentin I figured they had shot themselves in the foot.  They were going all youth and the veterans on the team don't have a track record of being able to mentor.

 

I was still as surprised as anybody when the entire team forgot how to hit for 6-8 weeks after that.  The Twins would still not be great, but Quentin would have produced better than Arcia and sometimes hits are contagious.  I think most of us would take knockkng-on-.500 over what we have now.  

So, Quentin would have changed things from 0-9 to what 2-7?

Sorry, Quentin not with the team was right. Trusting the rest of the OF was a huge problem. But then, people trusted Dozier too--and he stunk for 6 weeks or so.

[Doomtints]

 

So, Quentin would have changed things from 0-9 to what 2-7?

Sorry, Quentin not with the team was right. Trusting the rest of the OF was a huge problem. But then, people trusted Dozier too--and he stunk for 6 weeks or so.

 

This is the exact response I would predict from 90-95% of people who read what I wrote.

 

Nevertheless, I think that move was the first mistake of many that sank this season.  It was the first sign that someone in management doesn't have a clue.  Come on, Arcia over Quentin?  With that move I felt that the Twins had ensured themselves a worse year than 2015.

 

Later moves confirmed that quickly.  But, of course, none of us predicted we would see the worst year of the franchise.

 

As for that 0-9 start (and in the weeks beyond), look at how many 1-run games were lost.  It would not take much to have turned that into a close-to-.500 record.

[Loosey]

This team seems to have fallen apart when they lost the game they had to start over on August 10.  They had just won 9 of 14 and were up 5-1 or 5-0 against Houston before it started raining.  The game got called and they played a double header the next day.  They got swept.  Since the game that didn't count they are 3-14.  2 wins came against the Braves.

 

That thunderstorm really messed things up for the Twins. . . . .

[Doomtints]

 

This team seems to have fallen apart when they lost the game they had to start over on August 10.  They had just won 9 of 14 and were up 5-1 or 5-0 against Houston before it started raining.  The game got called and they played a double header the next day.  They got swept.  Since the game that didn't count they are 3-14.  2 wins came against the Braves.

 

That thunderstorm really messed things up for the Twins. . . . .

 

I agree.  Calling that game instead of resuming it was B.S. and it really seemed to affect the team.  

[jimbo92107]

Boy, are you guys gonna be eating crow when this team turns it around! ;-)

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Are we allowed to forfeit on the basis of not enough competent pitching?  I mean, who would argue that?

The other team's lineup?  They're not going to pass up a chance to make history!  

[Loosey]

 

I agree.  Calling that game instead of resuming it was B.S. and it really seemed to affect the team.  

Which if it actually did, tells you the mental makeup of this team is weak.

[Major League Ready]

 

This is the exact response I would predict from 90-95% of people who read what I wrote.

 

Nevertheless, I think that move was the first mistake of many that sank this season.  It was the first sign that someone in management doesn't have a clue.  Come on, Arcia over Quentin?  With that move I felt that the Twins had ensured themselves a worse year than 2015.

 

Later moves confirmed that quickly.  But, of course, none of us predicted we would see the worst year of the franchise.

 

As for that 0-9 start (and in the weeks beyond), look at how many 1-run games were lost.  It would not take much to have turned that into a close-to-.500 record.

OR the front office decided that a suspect almost 34 y/o outfielder had no role in the future of this team beyond this year an opted to keep players who did have a chance to contribute going forward.  Thank god because their failure to do this in the past would actually be a valid criticism.  Granted Arcia was suspect as well but at least the potential reward was high and long-term if he turned it around. 

[Doomtints]

 

OR the front office decided that a suspect almost 34 y/o outfielder had no role in the future of this team beyond this year an opted to keep players who did have a chance to contribute going forward.  Thank god because their failure to do this in the past would actually be a valid criticism.  Granted Arcia was suspect as well but at least the potential reward was high and long-term if he turned it around. 

 

I disagree, and I have been high on Arcia historically.  He was not ever going to be an upgrade over Quentin.

 

And who cares if Quentin was only going to be around a year?  Look at the OF depth they have in the minors.  Arcia not being ready would not have been a tragic loss.  There are plenty of guys who will be ready in the coming years.  

[Major League Ready]

 

I disagree, and I have been high on Arcia historically.  He was not ever going to be an upgrade over Quentin.

 

And who cares if Quentin was only going to be around a year?  Look at the OF depth they have in the minors.  Arcia not being ready would not have been a tragic loss.  There are plenty of guys who will be ready in the coming years.  

Arcia vs Quentin is a simplistic view.  Keeping Quentin would have not only made it very difficult to give Arcia a shot, it would have taken ABS from either Kepler or Rosario.  They also would not have signed Grossman.  He might not have a high ceiling but he can be a role player going forward.  From a broader perspective, keeping Quentin had a number of potential detrimental effects.  Therefore, from a broad perspective, short-term thinking that in all likelihood hurts the team long-term.  Very bad idea for a team so badly in need of developing long-term solutions.

 

I also dont see the depth of OFers in the minors.  At least not impact players.  Kirilloff is a long way off.  Walker and Palka are very suspect I root for them big time because of their power but but they are not good bets to be ML regulars.    Granite is a BU strategy to Buxton and potential 4th OFer but he is not exactly highly regarded.  They seem pretty thin in terms of high ceiling OFers in the minors.  To whom are you referring when you speak of this depth in the minors?

 

We might just have to agree to disagree.