Article: Where Are The Twins Getting It Wrong?

[Blake]

 

The minute any orgainization becomes all business (or what have you done for me lately) and you are just a number, many people (players or workers) try, but do not care to be in that situation.  I am one of that type, my managers made all the difference in the world.  If they did not respect my work, it was better for both of us if I moved on.  

Not quite an apt comparison.

 

It's hard to respect work production when the production isn't there.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I haven't seen it confirmed anywhere that the FO chose not to call up Buxton without conferring with him. Am I missing something? Everyone in there Buxton-ness is assuming the player has been wronged significantly. So much so that I've seen articles on TD promoting/advising Buxton's agents to file a grievance with the Players Association. Based solely on speculation?

 

There are plenty of articles out there citing how Buxton was disappointed in the decision, how the Twins recognize this, and how his agents and his union reps are looking into it for a possible grievance. Here's one:

 

https://www.twincities.com/2018/09/01/twins-hope-to-make-amends-with-byron-buxton-who-wont-be-recalled/amp/

 

Maybe it was still a wise decision for the team, maybe it will all blow over eventually, but please don't pretend that the short-term negative consequences are simply fan speculation.

Edited September 11, 2018 by spycake

[ThejacKmp]

 

Hopefully the FO learns from this year’s unpredictability and truly commits to a full blown youth movement in 2019.

I mean we traded Pressly, might as well trade Gibson, Odorizzi, and Castro too.

 

The lesson from unpredictability is not "give up". 2018 is not the only thing to take a lesson from - what about 2017 when they surprised and made the playoffs? We should take no lessons from that? Why is 2018 more instructive than 2017?

 

The Twins are not a team that should be going all-in but they aren't a team that needs to rebuild. There's no reason that they can't be next year's A's or Rays (after all, the Rays and A's are last year's Twins). They need to put a solid team on the field next year while preserving payroll and resources for the future. That's pretty doable if they (A) Sign a 2B from the glut of FA options ( augment at DH/corner OF/1B and © sign some high-upside veteran starting pitching like Ervin.

 

There's no reason to give up, especially since the return for Odorizzi and Castro would be minimal.

[ThejacKmp]

 

You realize you're responding to two separate quotes, from two separate posters here, right?

 

Yep. Number3 quoted you and said he agreed and the elaborated. Seemed fair to tackle both posts since they built on one another.

[ThejacKmp]

 

Exactly. The first couple of years of Ryan's second tenure allowed us to coin the phrase "AAAA players." No outfield, no pitching. I get depressed just thinking about it and this was over five years ago.

 

And heck, the first few years of Ryan's first tenure weren't any better. He took two teams that needed some work and gutted them completely without addressing the issues that actually needed working on.

 

The negativity down the stretch is crazy. People wanted to play the young 'uns but are surprised when they aren't all-stars and when the Twins lose as a result. Not saying that Gonsalves will be the next Romero or that Astudillo is the next Al Newman but you're getting what you wanted and there is that chance. If it doesn't taste good, you shouldn't have ordered it.

[Blake]

All grousing and hind sight aside, when you look at the surprise that is the Oakland A's and the disappointment that is the Twins, it just goes to show how many things have to go right in order for a team to contend. 

 

Conversely, when a perfect storm of injuries and lack of production come along, it's very difficult for a team to overcome.

 

[nicksaviking]

 

The human aspect of the job seems to be the thing Falvey and Levine struggle with the most. Minimal to no communication with key organization players past and present.

Ignore your personal feelings about these players... They did not speak to Dozier about an extension or his future with the team. They did not speak to Mauer about his opinion of getting traded or not. They did not speak to Buxton about their decision to send him home for the season.

Most decisions they've made so far is for the benefit of the organization, and Pohlad's wallet. It's not like they've done anything beyond the rules set in place. However, they don't sound like people I would personally want to report into.

I want to feel like a real person, not an ant in an ant farm.

 

Honestly, I want a Terminator in the front office. This organization has for so long put emotions ahead of sound baseball decision. I'm not saying our current Terminator is making sound baseball decisions, but I wouldn't have approached Dozier about an extension just because he was asking for one, I'd only do it if I actually wanted him back. Decisions on Mauer and Buxton should be based on what's best for the team, not the individual players (not saying they got it right, just that I don't want the players dictating the decisions).

 

All this century we've been doing the "we are family" "aw-shucks" "let's just go out there and have fun" underdog bit. I've had enough. Maybe I'm a monster, but I want to win and at any costs. I don't think that starts with making concessions to players who aren't pulling their weight or aren't in the team's future. Let the field manager handle the human emotions, the motivation and the pep talks, that's supposed to be his job anyway. I want the guys actually running the show to make the best baseball decisions, even if it seems cutthroat.

[ThejacKmp]

 

You realize you're responding to two separate quotes, from two separate posters here, right?

 

As for the portion I wrote: the 40 man roster in 2016 looked a great deal better than it does today. In 2016, Sano/Buxton/Kepler/Rosario/Berrios et al were in the big leagues, 2 years younger, and still looked like a solid corps on the verge of emerging. There were good, major league quality pieces on the 40 man such as Dozier, Escobar, Nunez. Mauer was two years younger.  

 

The 40 man in 2016 was a great deal better than today.

 

If there's a comparison, it'd be to the 1980's, not 2016, in terms of 40 man rosters largely bereft of plausible upside.

 

And yes...I'm older than 2.

 

Are you older than 7? Because those early 2010s teams were pretty awful too. Or was there a valuable core there as well that I'm forgetting? I also think you're forgetting the mid to late 90s. The Twins had nothing like Buxton/Sano/Kepler/Rosario/Polanco/Garver/Berrios/Romero/Gonsalves/Buesnitz back then.

 

Escobar 2018 >>> Escobar 2016. Rosario 2018 >>>> Rosario 2016. Kepler 2018 has the same stats as 2016 Kepler and is still 25 - the upside is still there. You're right that Buxton/Sano have regressed but neither is by any means done. Dozier is gone. I'd agree that 2018 position players are not as exciting as 2016 but that's mostly because the unknown is exciting and has a higher ceiling.

 

And the pitching is where it's totally different. 2016 Santana was good but the rest of the staff was Hot Garbage Gibson, Duffey 2.0, Hughes, Tommy Milone, Ricky Nolasco. The Twins of 2018 have so much more upside: Great Gibson, Berrios, Romero, Gonsalves, even Odorizzi. And that's not even getting into the pen. The 2018 Twins pen is up-and-down but there's more upside now than there was in 2016 - go look at those names and get excited.

 

I'd take the 2018 Twins situation over the 2016 Twins situation in a heart-beat. Pitching is way harder to find than a few patches in the lineup.

[Otto von Ballpark]

The 40 man roster is bad now because the Twins sold at the deadline.

It was pretty bad before that too. Belisle, Motter, Bobby Wilson. A bunch of marginal relief "prospects", many of whom have been added by the new front office.

 

I don't know about worst of my lifetime, but the bad roster was part of the reason we had to sell at the deadline.

[bobs]

  I think it takes longer than two years to completely change an organization.  Most of this organizations players/prospects were inherited.  Terry Ryan's FO had a lot of success in the 2000's, but it was severely outdated.  This much change will take time.  The philosophical changes, I assume, are being implemented in the minor leagues and it may take another couple years before we start to see the effects of that with the big league club.

  I think the Buxton decision is the best example...not calling him up was, no matter how Falvine tries to spin it, purely a business decision.  There was no "follow your gut", no thought on relationships, no thought of someones feelings.  Whether that's good or bad I don't know.  We will find out I guess.  In 2022 or whatever, we may be singing their praises b/c they didn't call him up and lose that extra year.  

[bobs]

 

Are you older than 7? Because those early 2010s teams were pretty awful too. Or was there a valuable core there as well that I'm forgetting? I also think you're forgetting the mid to late 90s. The Twins had nothing like Buxton/Sano/Kepler/Rosario/Polanco/Garver/Berrios/Romero/Gonsalves/Buesnitz back then.

 

Escobar 2018 >>> Escobar 2016. Rosario 2018 >>>> Rosario 2016. Kepler 2018 has the same stats as 2016 Kepler and is still 25 - the upside is still there. You're right that Buxton/Sano have regressed but neither is by any means done. Dozier is gone. I'd agree that 2018 position players are not as exciting as 2016 but that's mostly because the unknown is exciting and has a higher ceiling.

 

And the pitching is where it's totally different. 2016 Santana was good but the rest of the staff was Hot Garbage Gibson, Duffey 2.0, Hughes, Tommy Milone, Ricky Nolasco. The Twins of 2018 have so much more upside: Great Gibson, Berrios, Romero, Gonsalves, even Odorizzi. And that's not even getting into the pen. The 2018 Twins pen is up-and-down but there's more upside now than there was in 2016 - go look at those names and get excited.

 

I'd take the 2018 Twins situation over the 2016 Twins situation in a heart-beat. Pitching is way harder to find than a few patches in the lineup.

Agree.  I would also add that the FO was lauded for the shrewd moves made to bolster team's chances in 2018.  Duke was good.  Rodney was good.  Odorizzi has been exactly who he's always been.  Morrison was terrible.  Lynn had a terrible April then was solid.  All the FO can do is put pieces together, it's up to coaches to coach and players to play.  Even the trades...the only guy who would have been with them next year was Pressly.  They stocked the lower minors with prospects they could now either a) develop, or trade for a piece later.  This season has surely been frustrating.  It's frustrating having to watch Field, Giminez, etc. instead of getting a look at Nick Gordon, Byron Buxton, etc., but I do think this organization is in much better shape than it was two years ago.

[bobs]

Bottom line folks......PATIENCE

[diehardtwinsfan]

Mod note:

 

This thread is starting to get hostile. Let's back up... if you cannot post without getting worked up, don't... respond to arguments, not to posters.

 

Thanks. 

[ND-Fan]

This front office group tells the media everything it so desperately wants to hear but this is not what is being put forth to the players and I believe to coaching staffs. Now were hearing for the problem is Molitor which he may have some fault but when we have heard complaints from the players its hasn't been Molitor its been the front office. The problem is this front office has never been sold on this group of players and never has invested in them to win. Yes they did this off season moves but all short term contracts that could be converted into new prospects. Attitude of any organization starts at the top and this has been problem with this team since this front office has been in charge. We have heard it from the problem veterans of Santana and Dozier they have thrown in the towel way to early. When you have teams that are close to competing you need to pursue because things happen where you may never get a chance again. Look at Washington Nationals from 3 to 4 years ago they shut down there pitcher and they were going to get ready in the future with him. The problem they have never been that close again. This team is farther away from being contender now than when they were hired. Everyone raves about their drafts but its way too early to know how those drafts will turn out. Those players are at least 2 to 3 years away from reaching majors. The trades for prospects are same way so we have know idea on the value of the trade until those players either reach the majors or don't. Another thing is I hear is they are following what these other clubs are doing but to be honest I would prefer they were doing their own plan. This club is in total rebuild next year will just be another 90 to 100 loss season sooner people face up to it better understanding where we are as organization. I don't think media and a lot of public realize the team was gutted this summer and will continue on that path next year with Gibson, Pineda , Ordorizzi, and Castro probably will all begone by next August for more prospects. The future of this club rest with prospects at high A level minors. 

[Vanimal46]

Honestly, I want a Terminator in the front office. This organization has for so long put emotions ahead of sound baseball decision. I'm not saying our current Terminator is making sound baseball decisions, but I wouldn't have approached Dozier about an extension just because he was asking for one, I'd only do it if I actually wanted him back. Decisions on Mauer and Buxton should be based on what's best for the team, not the individual players (not saying they got it right, just that I don't want the players dictating the decisions).

 

All this century we've been doing the "we are family" "aw-shucks" "let's just go out there and have fun" underdog bit. I've had enough. Maybe I'm a monster, but I want to win and at any costs. I don't think that starts with making concessions to players who aren't pulling their weight or aren't in the team's future. Let the field manager handle the human emotions, the motivation and the pep talks, that's supposed to be his job anyway. I want the guys actually running the show to make the best baseball decisions, even if it seems cutthroat.

There's a style out there for everyone. That style is not for me if I was an employee or player for them.

 

I worked for a cutthroat sales organization before and my Director was the Terminator. If you didn't close business that month and hit your quota, you were shown the door. The only way he knew how to motivate people was instilling fear of losing your job. It was awful.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

The negativity down the stretch is crazy. People wanted to play the young 'uns but are surprised when they aren't all-stars and when the Twins lose as a result. Not saying that Gonsalves will be the next Romero or that Astudillo is the next Al Newman but you're getting what you wanted and there is that chance. If it doesn't taste good, you shouldn't have ordered it.

Lots of people wanted to play Buxton, Escobar and Dozier down the stretch, too.

 

Not many fans ordered this current product. A lot of loud TD posters, maybe, but not the fan base in general. 

[USAFChief]

 

The negativity down the stretch is crazy. People wanted to play the young 'uns but are surprised when they aren't all-stars and when the Twins lose as a result. Not saying that Gonsalves will be the next Romero or that Astudillo is the next Al Newman but you're getting what you wanted and there is that chance. If it doesn't taste good, you shouldn't have ordered it.

Which "young 'uns" are they playing?

 

Last night's lineup featured one player under the age of 25...Jorge Polanco. Velasquez was the only pitcher under 25.

 

And for the record, not everyone wanted this roster. 

[KirbyDome89]

 

We need a broader perspective than this year. And that pertains to a lot of the grousing about the Twins. We get it, this year went poorly. But overall this organization has an excellent farm system featuring some exciting players approaching or in the high minors, a solid MLB core, and payroll flexibility to augment weak areas.

 

This glass is 3/4 full people.

3/4 full of what though? Hope? A broad perspective has to include looking backward as well as forward. Supplementing major league talent with a stocked minor league system + money to spend was supposed to have this team currently competing, hence the "grousing."

 

I don't believe this record is entirely indicative of the talent level on the team but I certainly understand why others are tired of being sold hope while the timeline constantly shifts. 

[jtkoupal]

 

It all goes back to Sano/Buxton not doing much this year. Polanco missing a half season. Santana and Castro being hurt 90% of the year. Etc.

 

I definitely think that the Falvey/Levine combination will be just fine. They just need more time. They've done a lot of good things. 

 

But this was an interesting line to me:

 

 

This is the feeling from people in and outside the organization. I've talked to many players still in the organization and some now outside of the organization. I've been told by several that they feel like "just a number." A lot of guys signed or drafted before the new regime feel like their time may be short...

 

Terry Ryan was very present. It was important to him that the players knew he was around, and they knew he could be communicated with, etc. He spent a lot of time at the affiliates. 

 

It's a completely different culture. Even if some of the names are the same. There have been a lot of guys let go (front office types, scouts, etc.). Some have remained but the culture is completely different. It's all business.. and that doesn't have to be a bad thing. 

I agree, Seth. People like to stigmatize being "just a number" in a business or other organization. It doesn't have to be a bad thing. I am nothing more than a number at my large urban college. That isn't an issue to me.

 

At the end of the day, baseball is a business and everyone is expendable. Anyone on that roster (with exception to no-trade clauses) would be traded if the return was convincing enough. They are business assets.

 

It's important for the players to feel appreciated, however. If that doesn't come from Falvey and Levine, that's ok, but it needs to come from somebody. Ryan was good at that, but he wasn't good with analytics. Different strengths and weaknesses.

[nicksaviking]

 

There's a style out there for everyone. That style is not for me if I was an employee or player for them.

I worked for a cutthroat sales organization before and my Director was the Terminator. If you didn't close business that month and hit your quota, you were shown the door. The only way he knew how to motivate people was instilling fear of losing your job. It was awful.

 

I wouldn't like that kind of employer either, and I loved the comfortable and history embracing atmosphere the team created through most of the early part of this centrury. But I'm tired of this club being soft and rolling over every time an Alpha team comes along, and I have a hard time not seeing a corolation. A lot of players probably wouldn't like that atmosphere, but really, I don't want those players either. I want the ones that are also cutthroat and will always put winning ahead of comfort.

 

My previous affinity for the constant deferring to the team's history and family-first atmosphre always stemmed from the old World Series teams. Once they get there again I'll soften up and embrace that stuff again. But it's just been too long; time for business, not hugs.

[Dman]

 

wow is all I can say. I would love to know the average age of the posters to this thread. The Minnesota Twins I grew up with and the most recent successful teams(pre 2011) never resembled this mess AT ALL. Some of you would try to argue with me and say we couldn't beat the Red Sox, or the Yankees or the Astros this year anyway. These people support tanking a season with 60+ games to go. I assure you that those that concur with that decision are not season ticket holders. That being said, I remember 1987, everyone picked us to be swept out of the playoffs by the mighty Motor City Kittys. Our Twins had the 4th best record in the AMERICAN LEAGUE!! I would give my fortune to see you eat the crow if that would have happened last year. As a baseball fan you have to realize it takes a fair amount of good luck to win a title. If you dont believe me ask 1990's Brave Fan. All I ever wanted is for the Twins to be in it in September, and if they are, I know anything can happen. The Twin's Way taught me that. I wish i knew where that was now. Id rather make the playoffs and lose 10 years in a row than put up with this abomination even one more time. We didn't ask for this.
When Andy McPhail was hired he inherited an interim manager and he himself was not even prepared to be offered the position of General Manager of the Minnesota Twins. At that time a decision was made to bring Ralph Houk in as a sort of overseer or consultant to both Andy and the rookie field manager, a guy named Tom Kelly. Do any of you remember him? I wonder if he is available to help us fix this mess. Before none of us even care anymore.

 

I see your point but baseball is way, way different now than it was back then.  Baseball is more about analytics and building super teams.  Teams with outstanding shutdown bullpens.  You aren't going to get those little teams that could anymore.  Just like the all or nothing approach at the plate, it is an all or nothing approach to building the team.  We need at least a handful of super stars to compete and we aren't really even close at this point.

[labcrazy]

 

Patience grasshoppers!!! Patience!!!

 

You can't just judge them on two years, in my mind you need to give them five years. Then bring out  the pitchforks. But give them five years. Give them five years to bring in their players, coaches,  processes, etc  anything less than that is just a knee jerk reaction.

 

Yes, lots of questionable decisions but who knows better, execs close to the team, execs that have worked for years in baseball, or a bunch of internet jockeys??!!!!

 

Give them five years!!!

No way you give 5 years to these two. Next year is critical. Another failure and bye-bye.

[kusko_andy]

I don't doubt Falvey and Levine's credentials, they seem sharp and they've seen what it takes and been involved at successful organizations. 

 

My issue is this:  if every team uses analytics, what is the advantage of being a team that uses analytics?  How does it move you beyond league-average?   There has to be something else that puts you over the top.   Either a massive surge in talent or a massive improvement in "intangibles". 

[labcrazy]

 

The human aspect of the job seems to be the thing Falvey and Levine struggle with the most. Minimal to no communication with key organization players past and present.

Ignore your personal feelings about these players... They did not speak to Dozier about an extension or his future with the team. They did not speak to Mauer about his opinion of getting traded or not. They did not speak to Buxton about their decision to send him home for the season.

Most decisions they've made so far is for the benefit of the organization, and Pohlad's wallet. It's not like they've done anything beyond the rules set in place. However, they don't sound like people I would personally want to report into.

I want to feel like a real person, not an ant in an ant farm.

I agree with this 100%. Its not uncommon for the younger generation of folks. too much interaction on the hand held computers and not learning to actually talk to people face to face. No communication skills in many of the young generation.

[lukeduke1980]

To me the shuttle of Taylor Motters, Adam Wilks, John Fields etc has been a distraction and probably a hindrance to the organization if/when we choose to try them for some time in place of seeing how ready a Romero is.  It's like we think we're going to learn something about Nick Tepesch by having him pitch for us.  Don't you have a scouting department?  At most what you end up with from these experimental 4A players is a Robbie Grossman.  I know TR added these guys too but it seems like the Twins organization does so way more than anyone else.

[Mike Sixel]

The negativity down the stretch is crazy. People wanted to play the young 'uns but are surprised when they aren't all-stars and when the Twins lose as a result. Not saying that Gonsalves will be the next Romero or that Astudillo is the next Al Newman but you're getting what you wanted and there is that chance. If it doesn't taste good, you shouldn't have ordered it.

They are not playing the young players..... Gimenez, Field, Grossman, Belisle.... Are not young. If they were playing the young players more, that would be good.

[Mike Sixel]

As for 2017.... Where are they getting Dozier production from, let alone Buxtons best year, an amazing year from Santana.... Everything went right for that club, including amazing sequencing....

 

As for the 40 man, the major league team looks worse next year than any year the last three. I'm not sure what this front office has done that fixes anything in the short to mid term.

 

And it is hard to give them credit for picking first overall... Every player picked in the top five is a highly ranked prospect, so it was hard to be wrong so far.

 

I said I'd give them three years to show me progress. So far, the team is actually worse next year than the last two, and any good players are from before their time.... So what have they done for the major league team? Because trades and free agency exist.... And they have Austin and Castro to show for their efforts. This off season is a big test for me.....

Edited September 11, 2018 by Mike Sixel

[70charger]

 

All grousing and hind sight aside, when you look at the surprise that is the Oakland A's and the disappointment that is the Twins, it just goes to show how many things have to go right in order for a team to contend. 

 

Conversely, when a perfect storm of injuries and lack of production come along, it's very difficult for a team to overcome.

 

This.

 

We are all fools of randomness right now. We overperformed last year, and that got us way too excited. Then we underperformed this year, and based on risen expectations, we got way too angsty.

 

I have to believe that roughly 75% of this conversation wouldn't exist if we were just .500 team both years, like we probably should have been.

 

So much drama...

[Kelly Vance]

 

I can tell you one place where they're getting it wrong: take a look at the current 40 man roster, two years into their tenure.

 

Arguably worse than at any point in my lifetime. And none of what young talent they do have has been signed to a long term contract. Not one single player. 

 

Maybe they've made improvements behind the scenes, but you'll have a hard time convincing me it's made any positive difference to date.

 

And maybe they have a strong lower minor league system. We've had that in the recent past, too. And as Twins fans, nobody should have to tell us a strong lower minor league system isn't a guarantee of anything.

 

It's only been two years, I get that. And they weren't handed a healthy organization. But it's reasonable to conclude the organization is in worse shape now than when they took over. 

Chief, we don't always agree but I agree with you here.

 

There is a way to do things and some FO guys have a knack.  I for one, miss what Andy did for us all those years ago. He saw the whole picture. 

 

But the one thing this FO and Molly struggle with is finding guys that fit in to a team chemistry. And knowing how to build chemistry. It doesn't happen by itself.

 

You build team chemistry a number of ways, including silly stuff like Kangaroo Court and dumb ass clubhouse hijinks. Torii with his dance, Mike Red Dawg with naked batting practice. Stuff that makes people laugh, and loosen up. And want to be part of the organization. Players know they are going to make their money somewhere, but they would rather be where they are appreciated, and where they have a chance to win a ring. . 

 

Nick wrote a good article. He gave considerable thought to the human element, which I personally have commented on a buncha times. II think the human element is more important than technique, launch angles, metrics, and all of that statistical analysis.

 

TRex didn't care about stats, neither did Kirby or Gags or Rat or Bruno. They just liked playing together. 

THAT is the human element.  THAT is team chemistry.Guys liker Lombo and Randy Bush fit in on championship teams because they were great guys, if only fair players. When we added other good chemistry gamers like Gladden and Groove and Jeff Rearden, well, the rest, as they say is history. 

 

We need to find those kind of guys. Guys with heart. Guys who are fun to play with and who care more about the team, and each other, than themselves. Then pay them what they want. Instead we seem to be looking for numbers and stat performers. I think we need to look at guys who fit, so that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. 

 

But this FO doesn't engender that kind of confidence in players that they care about heart. And I think this organization is turning into a blind alley, where they can be described as a group that knows the price of everything, but the value of nothing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[chpettit19]

 

As for 2017.... Where are they getting Dozier production from, let alone Buxtons best year, an amazing year from Santana.... Everything went right for that club, including amazing sequencing....

As for the 40 man, the major league team looks worse next year than any year the last three. I'm not sure what this front office has done that fixes anything in the short to mid term.

And it is hard to give them credit for picking first overall... Every player picked in the top five is a highly ranked prospect, so it was hard to be wrong so far.

I said I'd give them three years to show me progress. So far, the team is actually worse next year than the last two, and any good players are from before their time.... So what have they done for the major league team? Because trades and free agency exist.... And they have Austin and Castro to show for their efforts. This off season is a big test for me.....

Your last sentence is the only one that truly talks to next year. The 40 man as it currently sits is not what it will be next season. They have about $100 mil to play with this offseason. They were fine getting rid of a streaky, declining second baseman who was going to be paid more than he produced. They're fine walking away from an old pitcher who outperformed his career stats drastically in his mid 30s and lost this entire year to injury. They are fine sitting Buxton for a month to save a year and give him that extra chance to prove he's got anything close to the hitting ability he showed in 2017. Progress isn't a linear idea when it comes to professional sports teams. Freeing up money from old, declining players is progress. Not resigning Phil Hughes type guys to big extensions after 1 outlier season is progress. The front office's job is to set up a sustainable system to be competitive year after year, barring injuries. They are paid to look to the future and do what's best for the team as a whole for now, 5 years down the road, 10 years down the road, and indefinitely into the future. The coaches and players are paid to make right now as successful as possible. The front office did a great job of adding supplemental pieces to a playoff team while also maintaining flexibility moving forward in case things didn't turn out as planned. And boy did they not turn out as planned. Dozier and Santana can complain all they want about the trade deadline moves, but the fact of the matter is that if Dozier played up to the level he's expected to and Santana didn't miss the entire year they would have won more games.

Another poster mentioned wanting a tougher, more cutthroat, clubhouse and I couldn't agree more. Dozier bitched and moaned because a guy bunted against the shift and another guy stole second base in the 4th inning of the game. I'd hate playing with guys like that. You're paid to get them out so go get them out. Don't whine and cry that they are being mean by beating you. It's a business, and whether you like it or not, every business is the same way. If you don't produce and the company is suffering they're going to find someone who will produce and help the company succeed. That's how it works. The players didn't produce this year and the company is going to go find different ones they believe will. Could Falvey be more personable? Sure. But if the manager was it would make up for it. Every MLB team treats their players as just numbers. Every company you don't personally own treats you as just a number. Produce and you're fine. Don't produce and changes will be made. Time to be big boys and deal with it. Buxton has nobody to blame but himself. Figure out how to hit or don't expect to be in the bigs. Simple as that. Nobody owes him anything. He gets paid to hit, not just field. If he is only doing half his job he needs to figure out how to do the other half. It's not up to the FO or Mollie to put him out there just because he's Byron Buxton. Same with Sano. Don't care if you had a good rookie year. This is a new year. The world is a "what have you done for me lately" place and it goes for baseball players too. Produce or we'll find someone who can.