The 3 Biggest Problems Facing the Twins in 2021

[Cody Christie]

The Twins were supposed to be fighting for the top spot in the AL Central, but things haven’t gone exactly to plan. Here are the three biggest problems for the team so far in 2021.Bullpen Blowups

Throughout his tenure as Twins manager, Rocco Baldelli has seen some ups and downs when it comes to the team’s relief core. Fans might not remember, but the 2019 bullpen was a mess outside of Taylor Rogers for much of the season. In fact, the club had to go out and acquire multiple relief pitchers at the trade deadline to make sure there was stability heading into season’s final months.

 

For the season, the Twins bullpen has the third highest ERA in the American League. As Nick wrote about in the Week in Review, the bullpen imploded throughout much of last week, which resulted in a 9.19 ERA. Minnesota has also started the bullpen carousel by rotating through different arms at the backend of the 26-man roster. Brandon Waddell, Cody Stashak, Shaun Anderson, and Devin Smeltzer have been brought up or sent down and the Twins will continue this trend throughout the season.

 

Extra days off will mean the bullpen is rested as the team got back on the field on Tuesday. However, the team is going to have double-headers to make up their missed games and that means the bullpen carousel will continue to revolve.

 

Leaving Runners in Scoring Position

Recently, the team has struggled with scoring runs and this might be tied to the team’s at-bats with an opportunity to drive in runners. Entering play on Tuesday, the Twins have over 150 plate appearances this season with runners in scoring position. The team has hit .250/.327/.422 with 12 extra-base hits and a 37 to 17 strikeout to walk ratio. Last week, the team batted .175/.271/.200 with RISP.

 

There might be some luck or other factors that have resulted in this poor offensive showing. Health is clearly one factor in the team’s lackluster offensive performance. Josh Donaldson and Byron Buxton have been limited by hamstring injuries and both players will be relied on in the middle of the line-up. Miguel Sano’s swing also seems to be getting close to breaking out as he been putting together some strong at-bats even if all the results haven’t been positive.

 

Another option might be to call up Alex Kirilloff for a permanent spot in the outfield. The team used him as their 27th man in a double header last week and his bat is his strongest tool. Can his addition add a little life to the Twins’ punchless offense?

 

Lack of Routine

The start of the 2021 season has been anything but routine for the Twins. After avoiding COVID for much of the 2020 season, the Twins have seen multiple cases in their Tier 1 group including at least three players. Not to mention, the eyes of the world have been focused Minneapolis and the Derek Chauvin murder trial. The Twins had one game postponed because of unrest in the Twin Cities.

 

Baseball, maybe more than any other sport, is a game of routines for players, coaches, and fans. Players have been pulled out of their routines on multiple occasions this year for cancelled games and increase COVID testing. It’s pretty easy to understand why players might not be successful on the field with everything happening in the world.

 

Teams across baseball are finding ways to overcome obstacles even with the on-going turmoil and some of these issues are out of the team’s control. That being said, Minnesota needs to find some solutions to these problems in the days ahead if they aspire to a three-peat atop the AL Central.

 

Which issue will impact the team the most this season? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

 

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[VivaBomboRivera!]

Last item applies to every team in the league. Clearly some teams adapt better than others (see, "Chaos is a ladder").

 

Bottom line - Can't win games if you don't score runs.

[jun]

This team needs a new identity. Cave needs to go, Dobnak and Rooker need to be demoted, Call up Law, AK and Broxton. I really think Twins need a TK type manager. Twins need to play fundamental baseball because that's why we love the game of baseball.

[shimrod]

When every aspect of the team is failing it's time to look at the manager. You can't manage people (or games) by reading a spreadsheet and trusting the numbers. The metrics are an imperfect measurement of reality that should be used as an input into decisions, not a deterministic guide to action. 

 

This team couldn't handle TK. 

[VivaBomboRivera!]

 

When every aspect of the team is failing...

 

But every aspect is not failing. Starting pitching is solid. Defense is better than past two years. Relievers have been burned but have also had their moments.

 

This team has scored 12 lousy runs in the last 7 games.  If the offense had been able to put together just 4 runs in five of its lost games so far this season the Twins record would be 11 - 5, not 6 - 10. The bats owe Berrios and Maeda at least a win each.  No team will have a winning record scoring less than two runs a game.

 

"This team couldn't handle TK."

 

Perhaps not. But he does not appear to be coming out of retirement.

[rv78]

If you want to talk about "Lack of Routine" how about using the same lineup every day? The hitting has been atrocious. If I understand correctly Baldelli doesn't require batting practice and it is strictly voluntary. Maybe these guys need to spend more time doing that. Maybe they should learn to hit the ball to the opposite field. Maybe some, if not all of them should learn how to bunt, or slap the ball to the open spot of the infield when the shift is on. Hitting homers is great but winning games by other means makes you better. That is clearly lacking. I don't think we have to worry about this team not winning any playoff games this year, they won't make the playoffs with this pathetic offense.

 

When I saw Sano's picture in this article I thought it was going to name 3 players as the "Biggest Problems" him being one of them. It's not hard to name 2 more, take your pick of a dozen.

[puckstopper1]

Glad to see Sano pictured under the header "Biggest Problems Facing the Twins".

 

Fair or not, he is a big part of the problem right now, albeit only one of the issues as Cody has pointed out.

 

It may be just me, but it seems when Sano is hitting well it picks up the rest of the team and everyone seems to hit and play better (see 2019).

 

When he is not, it seems the team more often than not struggles (like the current 6-10 start).

[tarheeltwinsfan]

At least I can turn off my MLB.com Twins game of the day. Thanks to the TD writers for suffering through watching all the Twins games, some of which have been pretty difficult to watch. 

[Old Twins Cap]

Baldelli is a well-spoken guy, a player's manager. 

 

He protects guys and projects a soft, good-natured, completely relaxed persona where there is always a right answer and a positive way to take even the worst performances.

 

It's a glib patina and he is the definition of laid-back, cerebral.

 

Be interesting because Twins have played awful on the field this year and I can't see where his management decisions or style have helped.

 

Twins are finding new ways to lose with regularity and someone needs to start kicking things in the clubhouse.

 

 

 

[wsnydes]

The offense is the biggest problem, in my view. I do think that the RISP issue will improve, but not drastically. This team strikes out far to often and that will hold the offense back because it cripples their ability to manufacture runs. I'm less optimistic about the bullpen though.

 

It's still early and keeping players on the field has been an issue thus far. Will that continue or do things start to even themselves out. We'll have to wait and see.

[insagt1]

I'm encouraged by some who are trying so hard to will Sano out of his miseries,. Yeah, he may be getting some 'good swings' but he isn't getting results. You don't get any style points when it comes to wins. When the BA is hovering around .100, you aren't succeeding. But Sano isn't the only issue for sure. Many find the RBI stat to be outdated and irrelevant. Yet, you need RBI. Someone has to do it. TWins can't bring runners home this season. Until that happens, all the metrics are nothing more than numbers on a computer.

 

When I see a runner at 2nd base, I want to see him score. Thats the responsibility of the guys who come next. I don't care how they do it. Just do it.

[wavedog]

Their main issue is that they are playing "October Playoff baseball".   Unfortunately its the Twins version of playoff baseball.   I feel like it has continued into this season with the offense.   Individual players have been hot but they have not had a team offense yet.  Between injuries and resting and Covid lineups have been all over the place - there is still time to Gel but can't waste too much more time and this is very difficult to watch.       

[laloesch]

 

This team needs a new identity. Cave needs to go, Dobnak and Rooker need to be demoted, Call up Law, AK and Broxton. I really think Twins need a TK type manager. Twins need to play fundamental baseball because that's why we love the game of baseball.

Sano needs to be demoted along with Polanco.

[stringer bell]

OK, a lot of guys who have shown to be capable or better major league players have not performed--Polanco, Garver, Kepler, Sanó, and to some degree Cave. 2019 was when all of those guys were really good and maybe it is time to recalibrate expectations. Is there a Plan B? If the Twins continue to disappoint, they might be a completely different team after the trading deadline. 

 

The organization seems to be all-in on going for the formula of building around the long ball--no matter what the situation, try to hit the ball over the fence--and we've seen failures to score runners at an alarming rate. 

 

Bullpens have ups and downs. I'm not overly confident in the Twins' pen, but I don't think it is bottom quadrant, either. 

[Finlander]

Losing Everyday Eddie might have been more of an impact than expected. Nobody has stepped in to pick up the RBI slack except maybe Buxton when he was moved to the 4 hole for a bit. Lack of a legit and consistent cleanup hitter with some fire seems to be the huge issue with lineup.

[gunnarthor]

I do think lack of a consistent lineup hurts. I know some folks think changing the order around based on who you are facing, moving guys up and down or in and out, gives the team a better chance to win but I think it also takes guys out of their routine. 

[cHawk]

 

Losing Everyday Eddie might have been more of an impact than expected. Nobody has stepped in to pick up the RBI slack except maybe Buxton when he was moved to the 4 hole for a bit. Lack of a legit and consistent cleanup hitter with some fire seems to be the huge issue with lineup.

 

Individual RBIs are probably the worst stat to judge a hitter by. If a hitter is in the cleanup spot, that will inflate the number of RBIs he has. Eddie does have fire but it stands that he’s not very smart on the field, or at the plate. Cruz or Buxton should be able to take over that role. Neither were very good yesterday, though.

[Doctor Gast]

IMO our biggest problem for awhile is below average defense overall.

[cHawk]

 

IMO our biggest problem for awhile is below average defense overall.

 

Our shortstop has been ill for a while. With him back our infield D should be better but it has not been performing well.

[nicksaviking]

The Twins offense was built to play like the 2019 club, then MLB went and de-juiced the ball. That was a bit of a bad break.

 

But the juiced ball probably shouldn't explain why the team had a K rate of 20% in 2019 but has now consistently been 25% the last two years. My guess is the club is missing James Rowson and Derek Shelton more than they thought they would.

[USNMCPO]

Seems to me that it is time for Rocco to change his management style. Every good leader is adept at changing styles to fit the situation. Rocco's hands off, let's not get hurt. make sure you are rested approach does not seem to be working. This team matches their manager in obvious internal fire.

[D.C Twins]

New hitting coach please

[Mike Sixel]

I don't think this is a manager problem. He didn't suddenly forget how to manage.

 

The bullpen isn't good.

The hitters aren't hitting.

 

I'm not sure what to do about the second problem, other than promote Kiriloff, who might be a legit MLB player. Cave and Garlick are backups.

 

As for the bullpen, no quick fix is available. This is the staff this FO built. That's on them, not the manager.

[nicksaviking]

I'd really like to know how the players are worked with. I'd think that certainly the younger guys get lots of hands-on time with the coaches and instructors. What about the more veteran guys though? Do they need to ask for assistance? Do they need to ask NOT to have assistance? I just remember that Joe Mauer liked to be left alone and the team seemed to abide by that.

 

At this time though, I'm mostly thinking of Kepler and Polanco who have been around awhile now. Is someone working with them? Or are they at a point where they get to make their own choices and if they want to work out their issues on their own then the team is OK with that? Because these were supposed to be the two guys at the top of the lineup and right now, Miguel Sano, who isn't looking great, is taking at bats that look 200% more competent than the two guys who's best skill was supposed to be taking professional at bats. If Polanco and Kepler were OPSing .775+ like they are capable of, I don't think this offense would look half as brutal.

[mikelink45]

 

OK, a lot of guys who have shown to be capable or better major league players have not performed--Polanco, Garver, Kepler, Sanó, and to some degree Cave. 2019 was when all of those guys were really good and maybe it is time to recalibrate expectations. Is there a Plan B? If the Twins continue to disappoint, they might be a completely different team after the trading deadline. 

 

The organization seems to be all-in on going for the formula of building around the long ball--no matter what the situation, try to hit the ball over the fence--and we've seen failures to score runners at an alarming rate. 

 

Bullpens have ups and downs. I'm not overly confident in the Twins' pen, but I don't think it is bottom quadrant, either. 

"TO SOME DEGREE CAVE"?  To what degree has he not failed?

 

-0.2 WAR

.136 AV

.224 OBP

.159 SL

.384 OPS

 

 

[FritzDahmus]

Lack of a Routine will affect anyone in the worst manner [including the other 2 choices]

 

But.............

 

What the Twins front office has done with the bullpen is crazy. They let good people go, and bring in people less proven and with more issues. The bullpen needs a Josh Donaldson or Nelson Cruz signing. A big time reliever...or two. They eat up almost half your innings!!!!!! So....do something.

[puckstopper1]

 

What the Twins front office has done with the bullpen is crazy. They let good people go, and bring in people less proven and with more issues. 

 

Fritz - while no one would argue that the bullpen stinks right now, I'm not sure what you stated is totally accurate if these are the "good people" the Twins let go.

 

Trevor May is 1-1 with a -0.2 WAR, 1.86 WHIP and a 4.15 ERA.

Sergio Romo is 0-1 with a -0.3 WAR, 1.94 WHIP and a 9.53 ERA.

Matt Wisler is 0-2 with a -0.5 WAR, 1.80 WHIP and a sparkling 12.60 ERA.

Tyler Clippard has not pitched this season (on the 60 day IL)

 

[tony&rodney]

While I'm not going to worry about the record in April because everything usually balances over 162 games, I am concerned by the number of swings that miss. The Boston team put hard level swings on the ball that left line drives distributed throughout the field. Too many Twins have serious pull tendencies with pretty drastic upper cuts. The talent should be there but putting the ball in play is still important.

[Mike Sixel]

 

I think the overwhelming issue is the underwhelming offense. Quoting what I posted in another thread, it's looking more and more like this team only really has about half a lineup and that's only IF Buxton hits. We were potent in 2019 because Kepler, Polanco, Garver and Sano were all above average MLB hitters; in Polanco and Garver's case WAY above average for their positions. All 4 have been below average hitters in 2020 and so far in 2021, and Kepler and Garver were below average hitters before 2019. Covid isn't the explanation for that. Losing Rowson might be a factor but it's hard to believe the huge variances between 2019 and the roughly 75 games so far in 2020 and 2021 is solely based on a hitting coach.

 

I hate to panic early, but the combination of the last 2 years make it look more and more like we are not going to be able to count on Sano, Polanco, Kepler and Garver to be key offensive contributors. Without them, this team can only score as much as Arraez, Donaldson, Cruz, and Buxton give it, and we are in real trouble when any of those 4 are hurt, resting, or in an inevitable slump. 

 

It's still early and we can still turn things around. We need at least 2 or 3 more consistent hitters to do that. Having said that, I think it is a fantasy to think that Kepler or Garver will be among those hitters - Sano or Polanco might be but hope is fading for both. Cave or Astudillo? No chance. Rooker or Jeffers? Probably not but maybe worth a shot.

 

So what do we do? To me, the situation is such that we need to give some other guys some run to see if we can catch lightning in a bottle and find a couple more hitters. We're stuck with Garver and Jeffers since they are the only MLB catchers we have. Call up Broxton and Kiirilloff, option Cave and Astudillo, Garlick or Smeltzer. Play those 2 and Rooker in RF, LF and 1B for the next two weeks. If any of them don't produce, option him and call up Larnach. Get them and Kepler time at 1B and sit Sano at least 2 times a week. In other words, use the next 2-3 weeks to find out the best 3 hitters you have between Sano, Kepler, Broxton, Kirilloff and Rooker (and maybe Larnach). Best 3 win the RF, LF and 1B jobs. The other 2 go to the bench with Garlick at AAA once he fully recovers from Covid. We can do the same thing in the IF since Simmons won't be back very soon. Covid takes a while to clear, a lot more than 10 days. This is Polanco's shot - if he hits he starts, Arraez goes to LF and the 5 listed above are playing for 2 spots, not 3. If Polanco doesn't hit, he's the super utility.

 

This group has to be shaken up. What we are now doing is not working. 16 games, plus the offensive futility of these guys in 2020 is enough time to make that evaluation. We have time now to find our guys by the end of May.If we don't, the season will be off the rails by then.

 

3 weeks of data to decide if you should bench Sano (who has proven to be a good, if not great, hitter)? What is 3 weeks going to really tell anyone?

 

Kepler is a decent to good RF overall. Sano is a good to great hitter, he's likely too young to fall off the earth already. That leaves Kiriloff, Lanarch, Rooker to test among.....and it isn't any contest for who is the least likely to be good player, Rooker. So, call up either Kiriloff or Lanarch and put them in LF for the year unless they stink it up for 6 weeks or more.....

[South Dakota Tom]

No team is going to do well with 4 guys in the lineup hitting a buck and a quarter.    It is too easy to pitch around the remaining lineup and when the Twins are successful it is because they are tough 1-9, which just hasn't happened (yet).

 

In the glass-half-full view, though, that time will come.    There are enough players on this team, now, to perform.    When we can trot out a consistent lineup of our catching duo (but not leading off, fer criminy sakes), Sano, Polanco/Arraez, Simmons, Donaldson, Kiriloff, Buxton, Kepler and Cruz, with some reasonable combination of 2nd catcher/Arraez/Gordon or Astudillo/4th outfielder who could play all 3 spots - Cave or Broxton perhaps, but not thrown into an everyday role - it allows a more balanced lineup with potential (not always realized potential) at every spot.    Just looking at the slash lines of our (other-than-Arraez) leadoff and 5-9 hitters all season is vomit-inducing.