Leadership Seems Lacking as Twins Look Lifeless

[Ted Schwerzler]

The Minnesota Twins are staring up at the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Central division. Despite leading most of the year, this club is now having to claw back. Following the trade deadline, this team has done less with more.

 

Leading up to the August 2nd trade deadline, it became apparent that Thad Levine and Derek Falvey needed to add pitching. They had problems in the rotation and they had problems in the bullpen. Sure, Ryan Jeffers was on the injured list and a backup catcher became necessary. You could also make the case that an additional outfielder would have made sense after losing Trevor Larnach, Alex Kirilloff, and Kyle Garlick. The reality though, is that this front office did everything and more to position Rocco Baldelli’s club towards the Postseason.

We’ve seen in recent seasons where deals at the deadline have a way of spreading discouragement throughout the clubhouse. When Minnesota was both buyers and sellers a few years ago, it seemed that an initial displeasure was then followed by a desire to prove resiliency. In 2022 however, there’s no room for discouragement. Everything the front office did was met with elation by those on the field. The Twins social media channels have shown the embrace of new talent, and the excitement brought on by a belief that the team was good enough to invest in.

None of that seems to have mattered on the field however.

Although the pitching has turned around, thanks in large part to the additions made at the deadline, a collective of each player in the lineup continues to fail. Through three games against a very beatable Texas Rangers team, Minnesota has gone 1-for-19 with runners in scoring position. They’ve left a whopping 20 runners on base, and they’ve largely looked uninterested at the plate.

There’s plenty to be said about a manager with more of an engaging style such as Baldelli. He’s a far cry from the Hall of Famer that was Paul Molitor, and recently celebrated Ron Gardenhire may represent something in between. I don’t know that Minnesota needs a drill sergeant in the dugout, but for all we’ve heard about chemistry and makeup, it’s time for the leaders to lead.

Carlos Correa was signed to the largest deal for a Major League infielder by average annual value this offseason. Byron Buxton was inked to the extension firmly entrenching his status as the driver of this team. Sonny Gray has previously played for winning organizations while working through his veteran career. Necessary to see the production on field from that group, one of them has to provide the voice that turns this thing around.

It’s not Minnesota’s fault for playing in baseball’s second worst division. It is their fault for failing to capitalize on that opportunity. There’s no excuse for the lifeless performances that we’ve grown accustomed to at this point in the season. A lineup that should be expected to do damage routinely looks inept, and the buy in to get the job done has to be a feeling shared across the board.

To date the Twins have been held scoreless in 10% of their 117 games. With 45 to go, it’s put up or shut up time, and the only place this team will be searching for answers if left out in October is the bathroom mirror.

 

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[LA VIkes Fan]

Good post, Ted. I agree that the lack of a player "stepping up" to lead this team is one of the real issues this season. There really hasn't been a time when one or two hitters have really stepped up and carried the team through a 10-15 game stretch. Having said that,  I think the bottom line with this team is that it simply does not have enough talent. I don't agree with Jim Souhan very often but he is right about this lineup. The top 4/5 of Arraez, Polanco, Miranda, Correa and Buxton are above average but they are not great. They are pretty good. More importantly, there is no one superstar hitter among them who can carry a team for a month. Correa isn't that guy - he wasn't the MAN in Houston and he's not the MAN now. All 5 of those guys would be great complimentary hitters around a true middle of the order stud but we don't have that guy. The back half of the lineup is a disaster. Nick Gordon is a nice player hitting a little bit above average and he could start on a contending team hitting in the 7 or 8 hole. Urshela is a classic starter on a 2nd division team, utility player/8 or 9 hitter on a contending team. Kepler is fourth outfielder you keep because of his defense. He can't hit. Celestino is a AAA centerfielder who you hope will make a meaningful contribution one or two years from now. Sanchez is a backup catcher, Leon is a 3rd catcher/AAA depth. Cave and Beckham are at best high minors depth who really shouldn't be on any MLB roster. You look in the minors and outside possibly of Helman there's nothing there that can help you this year.

The pitching staff is similar to the top 4 or 5 hitters, solid/good but not great. The rotation is fine and could be really good if it had a number 1 starter. But we don't. The bullpen is actually pretty solid 5 to 6 pitchers deep after the trades, but the quality really falls off at the bottom. Add a #1 starter and the pitching might be good enough for a contending team with a good lineup but it's not good enough to carry the weak lineup we have.

Yes, injuries have hurt, particularly the back half of the lineup and the bullpen. Yes, we will have more starters next year. Yes there is optimism for next year because of that. All good. This year? We've been playing in June, July and August at only a little below the level of the talent we have; we should really be a slightly above .500 team not a 7 or 8 games under .500 team, but that's really where the talent is.

I'd love to see one of the hitters really jump up and carry us for the next couple of weeks. I think we're going to just continue to fade without that happening. If we're being honest, the best bets are really Polanco and Arraez. Correa and Buxton have been lousy with runners in scoring position all season so it's hard to see how that will change and Miranda is just a rookie. Kepler and Urshela just aren't good enough to be more than complimentary hitters at best. Short of someone really popping up to carry this team, I see the Twins continuing this slow fade and winding up somewhere between 82 and 85 wins. Enough to sort of be in contention but finishing 3-4 games outside the playoffs. Hey, it's a great improvement over last year but still would be a tad disappointing

[Mark G]

In my extremely humble opinion one can only begin a discussion like this at the top.  The FO, to their credit (and, trust me, I have rarely given them credit), gave this team the players to compete with, at least within this division.  Competing with Houston and NY, on the other hand.................but I digress.  They have given us a chance, even a damn good chance.  So........how does the manager and staff bring out the best in the players and put them in positions to succeed?  That debate could rage for the rest of the year, but clearly they haven't been completely successful in this area.  The use of the pitching staff and the never ending round robin line ups can realistically be questioned.  I still remember the fire in the belly Rocco showed after that replay ruling; where has it gone?  Time to show how much it means to you, Rocco, before the season slips away.  And it is time to play your best players the rest of the way.  You specifically saved them for the stretch run; well, my man, it is the stretch run.  RUN!!

As for the players, leaders lead by example, and yes, the veterans need to show some fire as well.  Players need to step up and take accountability for their play, and hold each other accountable as well.  Expect more, and you get more.  Own your failures and celebrate your successes, but always expect more, both from yourself and your teammates.  It becomes a culture, and, right now, the culture does not appear to be coming from the manager and coaches; the players have to step up and take ownership.  They have the ability.  They need to demand results from themselves and each other.  They can do this!!

[Trov]

I personally feel their biggest issue with runners on base is lack of a plan at the plate for most of them. Buxton is one of the worst on our team with runners in scoring position.  Despite pitchers having a different approach to him when runners on, he does not change his approach.  His OPS with RISP is .625 with a OPS+ of 68.  His overall is OPS i .830 with OPS+ of 130.  He is hitting a lot of HR, but just not when runners are on. He has 11 HR with runners on, meaning he has 17 solo shots.  He is just not driving in runs when he has the chance.  I do not know if it is how pitchers pitch him when runners on, or he trying to do too much, but he is supposed to be the leader of the offense, but he is the biggest issue of driving in runs when RISP.  Of the 11 with runners on, only 3 was with RISP.  

I agree someone needs to step up on offense and help carry the team.  I know fans do not like the RBI stat anymore, but the fact is our leader has only 55.  The only way you win is by driving in runs, so there still should be some value.  If Buxton hit like he did with RISP all the time, we would be calling for him to be benched, or at least not DH every game he is not in CF.  However, if he hit with RISP like he did without, he would be right up with Judge for MVP talks, driving in a ton of runs, and scoring even more. 

[TwinsDr2021]

44 minutes ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

I think the bottom line with this team is that it simply does not have enough talent.

Isn't this more a shot at the FO than anything, I mean there is no denying they were given some talent when they signed on and if the argument is they don't have enough, that has to fall squarely on their shoulders correct?

The only stars they have brought in are Odo (2019), Cruz(21) and one could argue Maeda in 20. That is it all the rest were inherited from the previous FO.

[Blyleven2011]

Nice article and I couldn't agree more that the leadership is lacking  ,,, 

Last year when the twins were losing badly  Falvey was never seen in an interview until the media called him out on it ,,, he never owned up to the responsibility of the twins play and let levine get the camera time with the media during the losing times in 2021 ...

Now when the twins started winning in second half of 2021 and played better ball Falvey was back in the camera light , proud to be a representative of the twins,  levine was never again interviewed ...

Leadership does seem to be lacking along with their communications skills on eluding us ( the fans ) of their plan ....

The plan  , the plan  , the  plan  ....

Smiles everyone ....

I noticed it hasn't gotten much better this year ....

[mikelink45]

This is a challenge because the team should have the talent to be more than a 500 team and we are playing as if we're going to end the season at that meaningless neutral place. I'm trying to see where fire comes from and it's a difficult thing to define we have no stats we have no analytics that define this. But how a team is run means a lot. I know that we no longer want the fiery managers like Leo Derocher or Billy Martin. But I believe an aggressive manager creates an aggressive team and that means things like stolen bases and bunts and all of the things that we have talked about over the year that Rocco won't do. When we get to a culture where our stars have to rest every fifth day it creates a sense of no urgency. When starters are not pushed to work a little harder than five, six and seven it gives a message that we can do well for a little while and somebody else can take over. None of those things create a team of really hard-nosed -  I'm not coming out - players I like Jack Morris was.  The player who plays really hard is Miranda, but you can't ask a rookie to be the leader for the team. We need an attitude adjustment and we need it throughout the team.  

[LA VIkes Fan]

4 minutes ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

Isn't this more a shot at the FO than anything, I mean there is no denying they were given some talent when they signed on and if the argument is they don't have enough, that has to fall squarely on their shoulders correct?

The only stars they have brought in are Odo (2019), Cruz(21) and one could argue Maeda in 20. That is it all the rest were inherited from the previous FO.

Not sure I agree that the only "stars" came from a previous regime. It was this FO that actually created a functional MLB pitching staff by trading for Duran, Gray, Ryan, Lopez, Fullmer, Maeda and Mahle, among others. Of course, they also traded away Rogers for a starter who got hurt and he who shall not be named. They also signed Polanco and Buxton long term and signed Correa as a FA, things the former regime would not have done. They also drafted Miranda, Royce Lewis and Kirilloff - not sure if Larnach was them or the last year of prior regime. I think this FO has a pretty good track record of getting and keeping  talent; certainly better than the Ryan II regime. 

Other than Buxton and Polanco, what talent did this regime inherit? Kepler and Sano were the crown jewels with Polanco and both flamed out. On the pitching side, the only real asset I can recall is Rogers and yes, he should not have been traded at least not for who they got. Maybe Kyle Gibson? I can't really think of anyone else at the MLB level that's a quality MLB player that was inherited. Gordon maybe? 

I think this FO has a real positive and a real negative. On the positive side they took a team that was threadbare in talent in 2016, added some real MLB talent, greatly improved the minor league pipeline and were able to keep assets around. Ryan wasn't really doing any of those things the second time around. On the negative, their trade record is mixed and the pipeline has yet to produce high end MLB pitching or that superstar hitter, and they really only added two "star" free agents, Cruz and Correa.  Overall a mixed bag but I think above average to very good. But let's be honest, Much better than the prior regime. 

[TwinsAce]

14 minutes ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

Of course, they also traded away Rogers for a starter who got hurt and he who shall not be named. ...

On the pitching side, the only real asset I can recall is Rogers and yes, he should not have been traded at least not for who they got.

Random, but on the Rogers point, I'd argue the wrong decision they made with Rogers was not pulling the trigger at last year's deadline.  If they did it then, they would have most likely gotten even better value and would have known he wasn't going to be on the roster come April.   (Downside would have been trading the player rep IRRC for the Twins and so having a slightly newer player rep going into the lockout.)

Trading Rogers was the right move.  Not replacing Rogers in the offseason was the wrong move.  I'm also fine with Paddack as the return.  (Keeping the unnamed player after he has struggled the past 12 months was not the right move.)

Regarding the leadership, it makes you wonder if Buxton has a hard time leading while he is struggling through his ABs and his knee.  Hopefully someone steps up the rest of the year and also shows that leadership going into next year. 

[Vanimal46]

The Twins have certainly been missing an ingredient since the bomba squad 2019 season. I don’t know if it’s the coaching staff, overall talent, or the core players who have been here forever. The lack of clutch hitting, streakiness of players, and ying/yang between pitching and hitting has been present for years before this season. 

 

[TwinsDr2021]

20 minutes ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

Not sure I agree that the only "stars" came from a previous regime. It was this FO that actually created a functional MLB pitching staff by trading for Duran, Gray, Ryan, Lopez, Fullmer, Maeda and Mahle, among others. Of course, they also traded away Rogers for a starter who got hurt and he who shall not be named. They also signed Polanco and Buxton long term and signed Correa as a FA, things the former regime would not have done. They also drafted Miranda, Royce Lewis and Kirilloff - not sure if Larnach was them or the last year of prior regime. I think this FO has a pretty good track record of getting and keeping  talent; certainly better than the Ryan II regime. 

Other than Buxton and Polanco, what talent did this regime inherit? Kepler and Sano were the crown jewels with Polanco and both flamed out. On the pitching side, the only real asset I can recall is Rogers and yes, he should not have been traded at least not for who they got. Maybe Kyle Gibson? I can't really think of anyone else at the MLB level that's a quality MLB player that was inherited. Gordon maybe? 

I think this FO has a real positive and a real negative. On the positive side they took a team that was threadbare in talent in 2016, added some real MLB talent, greatly improved the minor league pipeline and were able to keep assets around. Ryan wasn't really doing any of those things the second time around. On the negative, their trade record is mixed and the pipeline has yet to produce high end MLB pitching or that superstar hitter, and they really only added two "star" free agents, Cruz and Correa.  Overall a mixed bag but I think above average to very good. But let's be honest, Much better than the prior regime. 

Sorry I meant to type ALL Stars.

Miranda was drafted in 2016 and AK in 15, both prior to this this FO, as was Pressly, Escobar, Dozier, Gaterol (all used to get others, Buxton, Sano, Rosario, Kepler, Polanco, Berrios, Arraez, Garver, Gordon ) but that really wasn't point, my point was All Stars. And Royce Lewis was the first pick in the draft 2017 which they also inherited from the previous regime.

This FO has done an amazing job of trading for players, there is no doubt, Obo, Maeda, Duran, Alcala and others, but drafting and FA are real questions right now.

[DJL44]

10 minutes ago, TwinsAce said:

Random, but on the Rogers point, I'd argue the wrong decision they made with Rogers was not pulling the trigger at last year's deadline. 

Wasn't he injured?

[Major League Ready]

13 minutes ago, TwinsAce said:

Random, but on the Rogers point, I'd argue the wrong decision they made with Rogers was not pulling the trigger at last year's deadline.  If they did it then, they would have most likely gotten even better value and would have known he wasn't going to be on the roster come April.   (Downside would have been trading the player rep IRRC for the Twins and so having a slightly newer player rep going into the lockout.)

Trading Rogers was the right move.  Not replacing Rogers in the offseason was the wrong move.  I'm also fine with Paddack as the return.  (Keeping the unnamed player after he has struggled the past 12 months was not the right move.)

Regarding the leadership, it makes you wonder if Buxton has a hard time leading while he is struggling through his ABs and his knee.  Hopefully someone steps up the rest of the year and also shows that leadership going into next year. 

How could they have traded him at the deadline?  He got hurt a few days before the deadline and was out for the season so there was no way they could have traded him.

[Deadfan]

When exactly did the AL central become the second worst division in baseball?

 

The AL central isnt that good LOL 

[LastOnePicked]

I think the biggest leadership problem with the Twins is that there is no player leader, and there hasn't been for awhile. Going into this season, there was so much emphasis placed on this being "Buxton's Team." Even Correa deferred his leadership role to Buxton. The problem with that is that Buxton can't lead this team, and he doesn't even want to. 

You can't have a team leader miss two games a week with nagging injuries. Team leaders have to be durable, and Buxton isn't and never has been. And he doesn't have to be. He's an immensely talented platoon player, and was signed for a fair rate considering his injury history. Buxton has said repeatedly that he does not want to lead. With his history, he's wise enough to know that he can't be. Battlefield leaders cannot be injury liabilities.

Correa knew he was only going to be here for a year, so he couldn't take on the mantle of team leader. The Cruz trade left a huge leadership vacuum that this team then simply did not know how to fill. And for all of Rocco's positives, he is not tough and he does not project confidence. Most of the time he has a look on his face that he's just been punched or he's just about to be. His one big ejection outburst after the Toronto call at the plate made him look like an amateur - he ended up screaming at the on-field crew who had made the right call.

So, despite the interpersonal dimension being dismissed so often, this team is lacking the guy who can rise up and say "get on my back." There's no one with big shoulders to ride with this team. They can't hold the line, and Cleveland has known it since June. It was only a matter of time that team led by a competent veteran manager would chip away and take advantage.

[silverslugger]

I don't need Rocco to be a rah, rah guy in the dugout trying to light a fire.  I don't need Rocco to be the Manager thrown out of a game every other week.  I need Rocco to know when to hit and run, when to call for a bunt, how to create chaos on the bases and in the batter's box that the other teams defense must account for.  I also need him to know when to pull a starter and how to manage a bullpen.  IMHO, he falls woefully short in each and every one of those areas and it hamstrings the Twins.

[LA VIkes Fan]

41 minutes ago, LastOnePicked said:

I think the biggest leadership problem with the Twins is that there is no player leader, and there hasn't been for awhile. Going into this season, there was so much emphasis placed on this being "Buxton's Team." Even Correa deferred his leadership role to Buxton. The problem with that is that Buxton can't lead this team, and he doesn't even want to. 

You can't have a team leader miss two games a week with nagging injuries. Team leaders have to be durable, and Buxton isn't and never has been. And he doesn't have to be. He's an immensely talented platoon player, and was signed for a fair rate considering his injury history. Buxton has said repeatedly that he does not want to lead. With his history, he's wise enough to know that he can't be. Battlefield leaders cannot be injury liabilities.

Correa knew he was only going to be here for a year, so he couldn't take on the mantle of team leader. The Cruz trade left a huge leadership vacuum that this team then simply did not know how to fill. And for all of Rocco's positives, he is not tough and he does not project confidence. Most of the time he has a look on his face that he's just been punched or he's just about to be. His one big ejection outburst after the Toronto call at the plate made him look like an amateur - he ended up screaming at the on-field crew who had made the right call.

So, despite the interpersonal dimension being dismissed so often, this team is lacking the guy who can rise up and say "get on my back." There's no one with big shoulders to ride with this team. They can't hold the line, and Cleveland has known it since June. It was only a matter of time that team led by a competent veteran manager would chip away and take advantage.

i agree with this. I say it slightly differently - we don't have that one guy who can/will carry the team for a month. Same concept though. There is no on field player who puts the team on his back and carries it. Buxton is hurt, Correa isn't that guy, Polanco . . .A great manager like Terry Francona can do that on conjunction with one great player like Jose Ramirez but Baldelli isn't that manager and we don't have that player. It would be great to see one emerge but the time is getting late. . .  

[Whitey333]

This team has been missing leadership most of the year.  The well paid veterans have, for the most part flopped.   They play a listless brand of baseball most of the time.  So many holes and weak parts on the team.  No sense of urgency to them at all.  Their pitching continues to rank toward the bottom in most categories.  We have a 35 million dollar player hitting .125 with two outs and runners in scoring position.  It's August 22 and he only has 39 RBI.  Our defense is below average.  We have one of the worst baserunning teams in the majors.  Not just the puny stolen base totals but their inability to advance runners is ridiculous.  The central division is just waiting to be taken by someone.  The Twins look like a team that's not interested.

[insagt1]

Sad to say, but when the likes of Eddie and Cruz were in town, they kept the team hopping. They had the enthusiasm and Cruz had the leadership.

Not sure any of us expected so many of our 'stars' to have such rotten seasons. Then factor in the injuries. Sano probably wouldn't have added much. Kirilloff might have helped, but he was never really healthy from the get-go. Jeffers was terrible offensively and just a tad better defensively. His replacements have been terrible. Sanchez's bat has turned into a wet noodle.

Buxton has been a terrible disappointment. What is keeping the torches and pitchforks away are the 28 HR's. But he hasn't had very many 'big' hits in a long time. His 'k' count is Sano-esque and, well, I think he's having a lousy year. Oh yeah, and of course the poor guy just can't stay healthy. Polanco is playing like he is in a trance. There is nothing there this year. Nothing. Kepler too is basically a wasted spot in the lineup.  Correa is having an OK year, if his name was anything other than Correa. He's a gifted fielder on most nights, but his offense, when it matters, is MIA.

So, this is probably a 3rd place team in baseballs WORST division. (name one worse than the AL Central) How badly does this outfit want to win the division? The 'eye test' says pretty clearly...not very badly. However, with 45 to play, there is still time to suddenly get it right.

If they want to.

[roger]

Leadership must come first and foremost from the Manager and to a lesser extent his coaches.  But they also need at least one veteran player to be 'that guy.'  For years it was Puckett, then Torii Hunter.  Although he was their best player, doubt Mauer was ever the personality to take that role.  Perhaps it was Morneau or Cuddyer after Hunter left.  But they need someone and it isn't going to be Correa who has one foot out the door.  Probably should be Buxton, but like it was said above, hard to be that leader when you aren't in the lineup a lot of games and limited to DH about half the time you are playing.  Plus, not certain he has the personality to be that.  Could, I just have no idea.  

[DJL44]

I think people need to be careful about projecting their feelings onto other people's motivations. The players are professionals and I'm sure they're putting in the necessary work. They don't have the talent. I'm actually impressed with how much value Rocco has been able to squeeze out of Chris Archer and Dylan Bundy. I didn't think Griffin Jax would be this good in the bullpen. They ended last season with rookie Joe Ryan and that's about it for a pitching staff. 54-70 one year ago, 62-57 this season. That's a huge improvement.

It is frustrating that this division is so weak and they aren't taking advantage of it but the talent is just mediocre.

[Mark G]

1 hour ago, silverslugger said:

I don't need Rocco to be a rah, rah guy in the dugout trying to light a fire.  I don't need Rocco to be the Manager thrown out of a game every other week.  I need Rocco to know when to hit and run, when to call for a bunt, how to create chaos on the bases and in the batter's box that the other teams defense must account for.  I also need him to know when to pull a starter and how to manage a bullpen.  IMHO, he falls woefully short in each and every one of those areas and it hamstrings the Twins.

I wish I had written this.

[KirbyDome89]

Remember when the clubhouse atmosphere was supposedly night and day different from last season, Correa was being praised as a leader, and we were scapegoating Josh Donaldson? 

I do.... 

[RJA]

There is something missing with this team IMHO.  Maybe it is a lack of leadership, maybe there are some issues in the clubhouse that we are not aware of (hence Gray's comments), maybe Rocco's decisions are questionable, or maybe they just plain aren't as good as we think.  I do know Correa has been a disappointment, and Buxton's injuries seem to have taken some fire out of his belly, but they just seem listless so much of the time.  When your best clutch hitter is a rookie, that says a lot.  Where is the homer hankie when you need it?  Where are the players only meetings to address the lack of clutch hitting?  Where is, for the lack of a better term, the passion to right the ship?  This is a crazy year for sure, but I don't think I am close enough to the team to know exactly what is going on.  But I do sense something is not right with this group.

[LA VIkes Fan]

15 minutes ago, RJA said:

There is something missing with this team IMHO.  Maybe it is a lack of leadership, maybe there are some issues in the clubhouse that we are not aware of (hence Gray's comments), maybe Rocco's decisions are questionable, or maybe they just plain aren't as good as we think.  I do know Correa has been a disappointment, and Buxton's injuries seem to have taken some fire out of his belly, but they just seem listless so much of the time.  When your best clutch hitter is a rookie, that says a lot.  Where is the homer hankie when you need it?  Where are the players only meetings to address the lack of clutch hitting?  Where is, for the lack of a better term, the passion to right the ship?  This is a crazy year for sure, but I don't think I am close enough to the team to know exactly what is going on.  But I do sense something is not right with this group.

Well put. It seems like they just don't have somebody who's simultaneously keeping the team loose and at the same time performing and pulling guys up. We miss Nelson Cruz. I know he can't hit any more but it would almost have been worth bringing him back. Same for Eddie. Teh team always seemed to play better when he was in the lineup whether he hit or not. We just don't seem to have that guy right now. 

[bean5302]

This is the same kind of article I would have expected to see back in like 2013. Mauer isn't a leader because he's not vocal enough!

Buxton isn't a leader? The guy is learning Spanish to better communicate and be more inclusive with his teammates. Hard to get a better example of leadership.
https://www.inforum.com/sports/pro/twins-center-fielder-byron-buxton-dives-into-new-challenge-learning-spanish

Correa isn't a leader? The guy makes his opinions known on team roster decisions and how much he values players. Several players have talked about playing with Correa and how he inspires and helps them.

The Twins just aren't a great team. They're a good team dealing with a lot of injuries to guys who were expected to be core players this year like Buxton, Sano, Larnach, Kepler, Ober and Paddack and several players they were really hoping would step up and deliver on their potential like Lewis, and Winder. The Twins are 8th in MLB and 4th in the AL in batting WAR. It's clear why they're not winning games, and that's pitching. Now, when it comes to pitching, Minnesota's bullpen has been a huge issue, compounded by the short appearances of their starters which is certainly part front office and manager game philosophy.

[DJL44]

11 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

The Twins are 8th in MLB and 4th in the AL in batting WAR. 

16th in defense and 23rd in pitching. They've made moves to improve the pitching but not the defense.

[ashbury]

33 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

Buxton isn't a leader? The guy is learning Spanish to better communicate and be more inclusive with his teammates.

In his eighth year in the majors. 

I'm not buying the cited article as anything but a PR-inspired puff piece during a dreary part of the season.

[twinssporto]

Could not agree more!!!! Nothing more to say.

Great post!

 

 

[Heistyman]

Why does Popkins seem to get a pass on this website?  I'm struggling to find any success stories from the bats this year.  I also can't find any interviews with regards to Popkins shining any light on the situation or his philosophy.

 

Someone needs to light a fire in the clubhouse and that fire could start with coaching or players but we need a leader to step forward soon.