Front Page: Buzzwords Will Ignite the Twins Front Office

[Ted Schwerzler]

Following the 2016 Major League Baseball season the Minnesota Twins ushered in a new era. Gone was Terry Ryan and in was Derek Falvey. From that point forward, no attribution of what the organization has always done held weight, and it will be buzzwords that ultimately decide the fate of the current duo.When Thad Levine was introduced, the talk was about collaboration. Their organizational restructure has been focused around internal infrastructure. Upon entering a competitive window in 2020, the suggestion was for a necessary "impact" pitching addition. Each of the small quips or phrases allude to a larger story or goal, but it is there they will now be held accountable.

 

Impact pitching is now gone from the open market. When the Toronto Blue Jays landed Hyun-Jin Ryu, there were officially no arms left that would slot into the upper half of Rocco Baldelli’s rotation. That leaves us questioning where the club turns, but it’s worth suggesting that this front office very likely may have intended this path all along.

 

Jim Pohlad has not protected his pockets against this duo, and Falvine has not collaboratively come up with black eyes like “bilateral leg weakness.” No, this front office bided their time before appointing a Manager of the Year-quality leader in his rookie campaign. They nabbed a topflight collegiate pitching coach, they’ve overhauled the Baseball Operations department, and they’ve pilfered talent from all over the nation no matter what notch had been achieved on their target's belt. In short, they’ve laid a foundation for a successful and sustainable plan designed around competition.

 

Not surprisingly, that’s also how they’ve handled the offseason thus far. Thad Levine suggested that the initial goal was to “stabilize” the roster, and then move toward a position of “impact.” In retaining top talent and filling out the bullpen, it’s now reached the critical juncture of impact acquisitions being the only thing left to accomplish. If the offseason ended today, you’d be hard-pressed to find a Twins fan pleased with where things stand. Fortunately, it doesn’t end today, and that’s where our focus should be.

 

Given the goodwill generated by shrewd and well-timed decision making thus far, it’s hard to imagine a complete failure waiting in the weeds. The Twins have something like $30 million yet to hand out, and those impact moves they’ve preached have yet to be made. Rather than operating from the standpoint that it was all just talk, the surmise that we will see those "impact" developments is a very exciting one.

 

I can listen on Terry Ryan failing to land big fish. Maybe the Pohlad’s weren’t willing to open their pocketbooks for the necessary resources. We haven’t ever seen otherwise at this point, but the circumstances today are not what they were a decade ago. This offseason won’t be defined by what Minnesota has always done, or how the former regime operated. This all comes down to the execution plan from a dual-headed monster that has done everything to position the club in its current state as favorites within the AL Central Division.

 

Should the buzzwords end up going undefined and unfulfilled once the club heads to Twins Territory South down in Fort Myers, a full-on roast should be sent toward 1 Twins Way. Until that point however, the anticipation of impact and belief in those having fostered all this promise seems like a far fairer expenditure of emotional resources.

 

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[D.C Twins]

I will offer a "buzz phase" that should ignite the FO....

 

"the great season ticket holder exodus of 2021"

[Richard Swerdlick]

Patience, Grasshopper, Patience.

[USAFChief]

Buzz phrase: "in on."

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

“... was never going to come here.”

[Don Walcott]

Although I haven't seen the phrase used yet in reference to all of the "impact" pitching being signed by other teams, I expect "sour grapes" might become the buzzwords of this offseason.

[jud6312]

"You spin me right 'round, baby

Right 'round like a record, baby

Right 'round, 'round, 'round"

 

- Dead or Alive

[specialiststeve]

Interesting view... So the Twins sign the 9th best overall (according to ESPN) FA a pitcher... and the 15th overall FA also a pitcher.... worked to get 2 other FA pitchers that signed elsewhere for Horse reason (Bum) and was given a 4 year contract with major medical concerns (thanks for being responsible FO)... Signed a quality backup catcher... Signed Romo and Clippard to help our improving relief corp..... and according to some are in the final two for Donaldson.... 

 

We just came off a 101 win season and have the manager of the year ... and folks act like we have a bunch of bums ... Grinch get to your house and steal your trees? 

[Brandon]

Paul Molitor was manager of the year a year before getting fired.

[ND-Fan]

I haven't seen what there plan is for the coming season but it seems to me they must be on plan d by now. We have watched as other clubs have signed pitching talent or have traded for pitching talent and we have come up with zero additions. I don't want to here about getting Ordorizzi and Pinada signed these were moves to return players we had last year. They were lucky they got Ordorizzi back for one year because if he new how this off season was going to go he would never accepted the qualifying offer and he would be gone. We saw what they have in minors this past year we have no top of line pitcher coming this year to be counted on to fill the gap. Part of there plan must be to move Sano to first but I don't see how that going to improve the defense on this club. If anything it weakens it because Sano will become liability at first because he will increase number errors from other fielders on his receiving ability. Also going the trade route is going to be costly now because of number pitchers signed by clubs that were thought not to be looking for pitching has eaten up supply of pitchers and there are still number of contending clubs looking for pitching. This off season is different than past two and this front office has been caught off guard in that pitching has become more valued and clubs are securing it must faster than last year or year past. They do have time improve this club yet but my guess is were going to take a step backwards this year and if my guess is right this division is going to improved this year and all of the American league looks to be improving over last year. With that we could easily fall back to 85 win club which not put us in running for wild card and doubtfull to win the central. I feel they saw this 101 win club are just over estimating where they are at and I could also cost them fan support for the coming year.

[akmanak]

Moving people up from the minors is just like a trade.

[rv78]

Possible/Probable scenarios:

 

White Sox win the Division

Twins win a Wild Card

Cole to the Yankees = Twins first round loss in the playoffs

Front Office decides it really needs to add some real Impact Pitching this time, they don't want to come here.

Minnesota fans go into hibernation and don't come back

Target Field becomes a ghost town

Twins get sold and move to Las Vegas. New team signs 5 top Free Agent Pitchers the first season and win the World Series

 

 

[notoriousgod71]

 

Interesting view... So the Twins sign the 9th best overall (according to ESPN) FA a pitcher... and the 15th overall FA also a pitcher.... worked to get 2 other FA pitchers that signed elsewhere for Horse reason (Bum) and was given a 4 year contract with major medical concerns (thanks for being responsible FO)... Signed a quality backup catcher... Signed Romo and Clippard to help our improving relief corp..... and according to some are in the final two for Donaldson.... 

 

We just came off a 101 win season and have the manager of the year ... and folks act like we have a bunch of bums ... Grinch get to your house and steal your trees? 

When you are only resigning your own guys it lacks the impact of making an addition. At best, we are merely treading water. If we didn't resign those two we would have ONE starting pitcher on this roster.

[Squirrel]

This off-season, so far, has been very impactful in its impactlessness. I hope I’m not saying that come April, but I’m not turning blue from holding my breath, either.

[Battle ur tail off]

 

I can listen on Terry Ryan failing to land big fish. Maybe the Pohlad’s weren’t willing to open their pocketbooks for the necessary resources. We haven’t ever seen otherwise at this point, but the circumstances today are not what they were a decade ago. This offseason won’t be defined by what Minnesota has always done, or how the former regime operated. This all comes down to the execution plan from a dual-headed monster that has done everything to position the club in its current state as favorites within the AL Central Division.
 

How do you know this?

 

I haven't seen any evidence the Pohlads are willing to open the pocketbook. In fact, there's been evidence against it if anything. 

 

The trading of prospects has been balked at the same way it was under Terry Ryan. There isn't any proof this Front office will take any more risk than the last one either.

 

These guys have done a fantastic job at improving the internal workings of the organization. Basically, the building from within the Twins have always employed looks to be much improved from what we are used to.

 

I like you optimism, but until they show something, I think you are going to be swimming upstream trying to change fans mind about how the FO and ownership operate. 

 

 

[KirbyDome89]

Falvine has not collaboratively come up with black eyes like “bilateral leg weakness.”

 

I don't think the ambiguity of the current batch of buzzwords is particularly praiseworthy. 

 

That leaves us questioning where the club turns, but it’s worth suggesting that this front office very likely may have intended this path all along.

 

They planned to fail in FA this offseason? If trades were their intended route all along then why not make an effort to find a starter at the deadline last season? Why feed local media the "we're in on...." lines? Not that their offer to Wheeler was anywhere near the top bidders, but why bother even submitting if they weren't even intent on landing a FA? 

 

Suggesting that the plan all along was to lose out on FA and be forced to pay steeper prices on the trade market seems like a rather rosy take.

[howeda7]

"Impact Pitching" is going to be this front office's "bilateral leg weakness."

[old nurse]

Bilateral leg weakness is part of post concussion. It once again shows how little willingness there is on the part of the public to understand brain injuries.

[USAFChief]

Bilateral leg weakness is part of post concussion. It once again shows how little willingness there is on the part of the public to understand brain injuries.

huh?

 

Mauer's first reported concussion was in 2013, IIRC.

 

His "bilateral leg weakness" was in 2011.

[howeda7]

 

Bilateral leg weakness is part of post concussion. It once again shows how little willingness there is on the part of the public to understand brain injuries.

To be clear, I'm not one of the idiots ripping on Mauer for being hurt. He clearly was hurt in 2011. The issue the front office's inexplicable bungling of how it was communicated, which made them look like idiots and made Mauer (unfairly) look soft.

[FargoFanMan]

Interesting view... So the Twins sign the 9th best overall (according to ESPN) FA a pitcher... and the 15th overall FA also a pitcher.... worked to get 2 other FA pitchers that signed elsewhere for Horse reason (Bum) and was given a 4 year contract with major medical concerns (thanks for being responsible FO)... Signed a quality backup catcher... Signed Romo and Clippard to help our improving relief corp..... and according to some are in the final two for Donaldson.... 

 

We just came off a 101 win season and have the manager of the year ... and folks act like we have a bunch of bums ... Grinch get to your house and steal your trees?

 

You’re absolutely right. The only problem is when you are resigning guys that we’re on your team last year and claiming that as impactful additions well that is assuming your fan base to be idiots. So we’re at square one. Great! But what are the chances that Odorizzi has another breakout year? That a 40yo Nelson Cruz has another mvp worthy year? That Garver comes out of nowhere to become a silver slugger? Oh, and the fact that with this pitching staff we’ll need to hit 300+ homers again. The point is the Twins have 30M in the bank and we have nothing to show for it that would put the team in elite status. Instead we tried to penny pinch and got nothing. The Twins aren’t surprising anyone this year like last and if they do then kudos. But when you got the firepower use it to become a World Series contender. Not a division contender. This is just classic 2000’s era Twins.

[old nurse]

 

huh?

Mauer's first reported concussion was in 2013, IIRC.

His "bilateral leg weakness" was in 2011.

Reported concussion. Therein lies the problem

[specialiststeve]

 

When you are only resigning your own guys it lacks the impact of making an addition. At best, we are merely treading water. If we didn't resign those two we would have ONE starting pitcher on this roster.

 

Respectfully your logic is flawed. So they help us get to over 100 wins and are two of the better FA pitchers out there... if we don't sign them we are looking at "worse" options or inexperienced system minor leaguers. If treading water is 100 wins count me in.... 

[Mr. Brooks]

Respectfully your logic is flawed. So they help us get to over 100 wins and are two of the better FA pitchers out there... if we don't sign them we are looking at "worse" options or inexperienced system minor leaguers. If treading water is 100 wins count me in....

And zero postseason wins.

[specialiststeve]

 

And zero postseason wins.

 

So the FO has been there three years have had the team in the playoffs 2 of the three years winning the second most in team history and coming off a great season and we are complaining? As I have stated we do need an ace to get to the next level but they are extremely hard to come by. We will need to trade for one or develop one ... so yes zero post season wins the past three years. Guessing there are about 25-28 teams and their fans that would trade places in a second. 

[notoriousgod71]

 

Respectfully your logic is flawed. So they help us get to over 100 wins and are two of the better FA pitchers out there... if we don't sign them we are looking at "worse" options or inexperienced system minor leaguers. If treading water is 100 wins count me in.... 

Hey, they didn't trade Kepler (yet)! They just signed an impactful right fielder!

[Mr. Brooks]

So the FO has been there three years have had the team in the playoffs 2 of the three years winning the second most in team history and coming off a great season and we are complaining? As I have stated we do need an ace to get to the next level but they are extremely hard to come by. We will need to trade for one or develop one ... so yes zero post season wins the past three years. Guessing there are about 25-28 teams and their fans that would trade places in a second.

I'm just saying, that's what treading water looks like.

 

I have no problem with someone who enjoys the regular season ride, and doesn't worry about the postseason. That's fine, I know many feel that way.

 

That ain't me though. To me the ONLY purpose of the regular season is seeding for the games that matter.

To me zero postseason wins is the exact same outcome whether it came after 101 or 41 regular season wins.

 

Again, not saying my view is better or right, but that's how I feel.

[howeda7]

 

Respectfully your logic is flawed. So they help us get to over 100 wins and are two of the better FA pitchers out there... if we don't sign them we are looking at "worse" options or inexperienced system minor leaguers. If treading water is 100 wins count me in.... 

They entered the off-season with the #2 starter locked down. They needed to add 3, a #1, a #3 and a #4.. Retaining Odo and Pineda filled the 3rd and 4th spots. But the biggest and most important was not addressed. There's no way to spin it as a positive.

 

Put another way, their job is to allocate their available payroll as effectively as possible to improve the team. Instead they are sitting on $30 million in unspent cash, because they couldn't get a "deal." That benefits no one except the Pohlads. But perhaps their's a GM award for "most wins per payroll $" or "team that had the least bad contracts" that we don't know about. Even then, the Rays will win.

[Mike Sixel]

"we really like our internal options"

[specialiststeve]

Respectfully he wasn't a free agent....