Pioneer Press' John Shipley sat down (or maybe he stood, I don't know) with the Twins' Derek Falvey to discuss the status of the team as well as the recent trade deadline moves. 

 

http://www.twincities.com/2017/08/04/twins-boss-derek-falvey-its-my-job-to-balance-the-present-and-the-future/

 

Like most baseball executives, Falvey has mastered the art of saying a lot without saying a lot but there are a few interesting responses. 

 

 

Agree? Disagree?

Reading between the lines, I'd peg the odds of Molitor returning in 2018 as manager at around 5%

Re: Jargon

 

This was clearly a written interview and not a verbal one. This is what I would expect given that.

 

 

The jargon is expected; I would have liked some tougher Q&A about more specific topics

I do feel like he actually gave some answers though, compared to what Spielman typically does. He isn't going to say things like...

"well obviously Molitor is gone, and we are going to spend big on a bat that hits lefties and a starting pitcher and a couple relievers this offseason because what we have in some of those spots now is basically garbage"

 

But, I still thought it was a decent sit down interview. Thanks for sharing!

What he said about Colon is enough to make me stop watching games for the rest of the year.

 

What he said about Colon is enough to make me stop watching games for the rest of the year.

 

A team out of the playoffs should maybe reconsider that answer......

 

Ya, nothing about that made me feel better. "competitive games in September"....did DSP write that out?

 

 

Q: You could make a case that maybe that was a week late, two weeks late, but do teams trade three weeks before the deadline?

 

A: That’s a really tough one because most teams are still measuring where they stand, and I would tell you this, that in the case of our acquisition of Garcia, that was the earliest moment we could acquire that player.

That's what I've understood about in-season trading -- teams would rather wait until late July in most cases.

 

About Garcia specifically, I would have liked a follow-up question about potentially acquiring him last offseason, expanded to the general topic of our lack of offseason activity overall, especially the bullpen. I know we've come up with explanations here, but it might have been interesting to hear it from the front office.

That's what I've understood about in-season trading -- teams would rather wait until late July in most cases.

 

About Garcia specifically, I would have liked a follow-up question about potentially acquiring him last offseason, expanded to the general topic of our lack of offseason activity overall, especially the bullpen. I know we've come up with explanations here, but it might have been interesting to hear it from the front office.

He would certainly dodge, but it would absolutely be a great question to hear him answer.

 

What he said about Colon is enough to make me stop watching games for the rest of the year.

At the least, it seems an opportunity for a follow up question or two.

 

What he said about Colon is enough to make me stop watching games for the rest of the year.

Sounds like a team that doesn't feel like spending money to field a more competitive team (like say adding an August waiver trade).

Great interview, good answers by Falvey about how the front office dealt with a complicated decision tree. Would have been good to get some insight into how they selected the players they got, instead of focusing on the players that were traded. It seems that the new guys score higher by advanced stats than they do by traditional scouting.

Sounds like a team that doesn't feel like spending money to field a more competitive team (like say adding an August waiver trade).

Why would they add now?

 

Why would they add now?

Three reasons:  1)  Some of these veterans on the waiver wire have another year (or more) under contract and an acquisition with a fixed cost can be made,  2)  more closely examine if a veteran would make a useful addition for next season, and 3)  put a better team on the field for those people who actually go to the games. Colon was only useful for a spot start--it's time to sing Happy Trails to him.  

Three reasons: 1) Some of these veterans on the waiver wire have another year (or more) under contract and an acquisition with a fixed cost can be made, 2) more closely examine if a veteran would make a useful addition for next season, and 3) put a better team on the field for those people who actually go to the games. Colon was only useful for a spot start--it's time to sing Happy Trails to him.

I have no problem getting rid of Colon but he's likely to be replaced by Santiago or, later in the season, a younger arm.

Shortly after Colon signed there were some stories about Colon retiring after the first start. Falvey's answer seemed to indicate that had Colon done so he would not have been upset.  I don't see any great commitment to Colon

Edited August 4, 20179 yr by old nurse

 

Three reasons:  1)  Some of these veterans on the waiver wire have another year (or more) under contract and an acquisition with a fixed cost can be made,  2)  more closely examine if a veteran would make a useful addition for next season, and 3)  put a better team on the field for those people who actually go to the games. Colon was only useful for a spot start--it's time to sing Happy Trails to him.  

 

Agree with #3, but I'd rather see what someone like Enns can do in Colon's space, who has 5 years of team control,  probably higher potential than the washed outs, and he is about to enter his prime.

I think a season of analyzing the entire Twins system before making any rash personnel moves is very smart. No sense throwing the baby out with the bathwater in order to make 40 man roster moves that may be beneficial this season, but may also prove to be problematic in the next couple years. I'm going to give Falvey and Levine a couple years to work their system before I judge them too critically.  So far I am okay with the moves they've made. 

On Molitor. I think the first part of the statements indicates Molitor is doing what they would like. If the FO brings up a bunch of young players over the next two months they would have specific plans for those players. That opinion is based on their comments of developing individual plans for those prospects. The second part on Molitor  would indicate they intend to evaluate him on how well he carries those plans out. If they think he can not or will not carry those plans out, Molitor  will be gone.

 

 

Agree with #3, but I'd rather see what someone like Enns can do in Colon's space, who has 5 years of team control,  probably higher potential than the washed outs, and he is about to enter his prime.

Enns will be up when the team has a better idea of how he pitches.

I don't know what Patrick Borzi wants from an interview. A GM isn't going to make definitive statements on hypotheticals or things several months away.

Maybe there is some value to salvage out of Colon after all.

I don't get the angst re: the Colon comments.

It's not like he is taking away starts from anyone who deserves it (realistically) 

I'd still have Duffey start some games, but that ship has probably sailed. Unless Gibson turns it around he should be probably be non tendered this off-season

Colon at least builds a little value with games like tonight as:

1. August waivers trade type.
2. A guy who could come back next year on a 1 year 2 mil deal as a 5th/6th guy.

His performance the past couple games aren;t anything sexy, but they got the job done IMO. Just his ability to go 9 innings in a win has value.

I don't get the angst re: the Colon comments.

It's not like he is taking away starts from anyone who deserves it (realistically) 

I'd still have Duffey start some games, but that ship has probably sailed. Unless Gibson turns it around he should be probably be non tendered this off-season

Colon at least builds a little value with games like tonight as:

1. August waivers trade type.

2. A guy who could come back next year on a 1 year 2 mil deal as a 5th/6th guy.

His performance the past couple games aren;t anything sexy, but they got the job done IMO. Just his ability to go 9 innings in a win has value.

He can't be a sixth guy. He is on the roster, or not.

 

I don't get the angst re: the Colon comments.

It's not like he is taking away starts from anyone who deserves it (realistically) 

I'd still have Duffey start some games, but that ship has probably sailed. Unless Gibson turns it around he should be probably be non tendered this off-season

Colon at least builds a little value with games like tonight as:

1. August waivers trade type.
2. A guy who could come back next year on a 1 year 2 mil deal as a 5th/6th guy.

His performance the past couple games aren;t anything sexy, but they got the job done IMO. Just his ability to go 9 innings in a win has value.

Nobody's trading for Colon in august.

I enjoyed the read, thought there were some salient points and plenty of rhetoric, which was to be expected.

 

What I heard/interpreted:

 

1] We like Molitor. He's a good guy and a legendary ballplayer. If he does what we want and we see what we want to see over the next 2 months, he has a shot to be back. But honestly, I'm not sure he's the guy we want for this team.

 

2] We never expected this team to contend/tease so soon. We were surprised and kind of embarrassed because it makes us look bad we didn't do more initially.

 

3] We like a lot of the talent here and what's coming up...why we took the job in the first place... but come on, give us a break! We took over in mid November, there is a ton of evaluation to do and things to improve and change, and we don't know half these guys! What did you really expect?

 

4] We're just getting started. Give us a little time would you? Please? We actually have a plan and some good ideas.