Article: 5 Challenges The Twins Should Be Prepared To Face In 2018

[Nine of twelve]

Sano for Archer, straight up?

I would do that in a heartbeart. If I were Tampa Bay.

[beckmt]

Not fixing the rotation is like throwing a year of our window away.  You can hope some of the Rochester bound pitchers help and make it, but you might need as many as 3.  Moves need to be made here and not for bottom of rotation starters.  

Rosario is not the player I am worried about for a major regression, maybe minor and maybe he improves.  Twins did well against the Central Division the last month, we need to do better against the rest of the league.

[nicksaviking]

This isn't he NFL or NBA where the offense is very dependent on teamwork. Would you rather have a guy that might be one of the best hitters in baseball, or Escobar, hitting? That kind of post hoc analysis is how teams and fans make bad mistakes.

Clearly the offense would be better with him, I was just suggesting 20-30 games may not be season altering as we saw it wasn't last year. With or without Sano this team's issues are still in the rotation.

[Nick Nelson]

 

I would have agreed before last year, but the team seemed to play better without Sano.

 

Not saying the team is better off without him, just that the offense still worked quite well with him rehabbing.

But that was because all of these players slugged over .500 from August 20th (Sano's first day out of the lineup after the shinjury) to the end of the season: Dozier, Rosario, Escobar, Polanco, Buxton. 

 

Can you really count on that happening again over any prolonged period of time? Especially with the latter 3? 

[jmlease1]

I think one that's missing here is a slow start for one of our three young, but no longer rookie outfielders. There's basically a 99.5% chance that our planned starting OF alignment is Rosario-Buxton-Kepler and if one or more of them struggles to find a groove out the gate it's going to be a problem for this offense...and right now the options behind them are: Zack Granite (fairly untested, did not hit much in limited action last season, and might have to start the season in AAA), Robbie Grossman (an abysmal defender), Mitch Garver (who had half the ABs of Granite and would be playing out of position), and Eduardo Escobar (who should stay in the INF).

 

A prolonged slump by any of the starters would be concerning, especially since I don't seeing anyone exactly hammering on the door to take their jobs.

 

Of Nick's 5, I'm most worried about Erv's decline, just because it would hurt so much. Some pitchers have a slow, gradual decline, others fall off the cliff. If it's the former, we'll be ok; if it's the latter we're in a lot of trouble.

 

I'm not terribly concerned about the closer role. I think we have a number of reasonable options to fill it if Rodney falters, and I think we'll be able to get by with Rodney as the guy who comes in to pitch the 9th. It's also the contract that seems the easiest to move on from if it doesn't work. that's the one off the list I'm least worried about.

[Matthew Lenz]

Personally, I don't think the "out of options drama" is a problem.  Like you said, I think Pressly is pretty safe and I won't be at all upset if we lose Vargas to waivers.  I have two cases of fatigue when it comes to Vargas and Gibson.  Personally, I think we give Gibby a shot at a starting spot, send him to the bullpen, or cut him.  No need to set him down to AAA unless they are desperate for arms and AA doesn't have anyone worth calling up.  At this point he is what he is.

 

Challenge #5 is what will make or break the Twins season, IMO.  Assuming a regression in Santana we need another #1 (Cobb, Darvish, etc.) or we need Berrios to take a big step this year.

[Lee-The-Twins-Fan]

 

I would do that in a heartbeart. If I were Tampa Bay.

I don't think so. TB would prefer Archer.

[Nick Nelson]

 

I'm not terribly concerned about the closer role. I think we have a number of reasonable options to fill it if Rodney falters, and I think we'll be able to get by with Rodney as the guy who comes in to pitch the 9th. It's also the contract that seems the easiest to move on from if it doesn't work. that's the one off the list I'm least worried about.

To be clear, I'm not so much worried about being able to replace Rodney if he's blatantly terrible. They've got plenty of depth to do so. I'm worried about what happens if he's kinda bad. How long does it take the pull the plug if he's blowing a save only here and there, but more than you'd like? Will Molitor be influenced by respect for his track record, or the commitment made to him when he signed? It's always easier to make these calls from afar; much tougher in the manager's chair.

 

[bighat]

Kind of discouraging to hear so many people down on Santana, as if he's dead or something. Erv led the league in complete games, was an All-Star, big innings eater, and had many votes in the Cy Young competition.

 

A player who is overachieving isn't a bad thing, people. Even if he regresses, he's not going to turn into Mike Pelfrey. The dude's going to rack up 12-14 wins and save the bullpen a ton of work when they're tired. There are lots of teams that would drool to have a guy like that as their #2 starter. And he'll be fantastic in that role when the Twins sign Yu D.

 

Have faith in the Twins F.O. and have some faith in Big Erv!

[KirbyDome89]

 

ESan worries me the most....not because I think he will regress for sure, but because even if they sign a SP (or trade for one), his contribution is not easily replaced at all. 

This ^^

 

For as much love as ESan gets here (he was incredible during the 1st half last year) I think his role in reaching the WC is still understated. The Twins would've been buried by the ASG without that crazy 1st half. I realize the offense came along nicely after the break, but given the current rotation outlook we're banking on Erv repeating that crazy career half just to stay within striking distance of a WC. Scary.... 

[brightside]

 

Sure, but that's not what people are posting....they are posting the Twins' offense is fine w/o him.....like he just wouldn't be missed all that much. That is very different than what you just typed.

 

I think we all are in agreement that Sano brings fear into every at bat against other teams. He will be missed for sure. 

 

Assuming he is on non-voluntary time off, it would also give Grossman and Vargas sometime at DH. Maybe it would give Vargas an opportunity to win some at bats later into the season... I would love to see Vargas turn into a threat.

Edited January 30, 2018 by brightside

[laloesch]

 

 

I think Sano should get 20-30 games as a result of the allegations against him. I read in other posts that Sano caused problems in AA in Chatanooga and the stadium wouldn't allow female ushers to come within talking distance of the dugout.

 

If that's true and i'm not saying its not, Sano has MUCH bigger problems than his conduct in Chattanooga.  If he is harassing female employees,fans, etc. and it's still reoccurring the Twins need to sit down with him and give him a stern ultimatum.  Knock it off or your toast.