Did the Twins Think Their 2022 "Reload" Through Enough?

[Rosterman]

That no one will probably hit 150 innings out of the rotation is a tell.

So we had a lot of pitchers (35 toital on the roster this season!) and msot of them needed to build up to full strength. The Twins decision was to limit the innings and try to egt as close to 30 starts as possible out of a good protion of them.

That works, but as a rebuild, NOT a retool, sadly.

The significant lack of a true closer didn't help. Hopefully Duran can be that man going forwards.

Injuries HURT the team bigtime. Yes, no one would think that the Twins would be praying to get a dozen games at the end of the season out of Larnach to IMPROVE the outfield play. But that is where the Twins are right now. Happily Wallner will be getting regular play. When  your BEST current outfielder is being forced to play second base because your second baseman is out...

And, no Sano!

[wsnydes]

13 hours ago, LastOnePicked said:

With respect, no. It has been 18 years since the Twins last playoff victory. If anything, expectations have become perennially too low for this club.

We're talking two different things.  I'm referring to expectations relative to the start of the season not generally speaking over the long term.

[weitz41]

13 hours ago, LastOnePicked said:

I've seen this argument a few times, but where is this line of thinking coming from? I don't see anything that indicates that 2023 is a part of some plan for winning. No Correa. Injured prospects. Depleted farm system. Buxton likely having already given his best on the field. Busted pitching pipeline. This FO has shown absolutely no ability to sign impact starters or relievers. What am I missing about this strange focus on the FO's mysterious "plan" for 2023?

The years of control they acquired with almost ever person they traded for is why I think that.

Correa was a unique situation due to the lock out imo.  

Injured prospects: I find it hard to blame anyone for injuries. If the FO is out there taking out knees with a baseball bat ok sure. But hamstrings, lat strains, broken fingers whatever.. Frustrating but isn't the players job to get their hands out of the way of that inside pitch that breaks their finger? Or properly warm up and stretch out.

Depleted Farm system: If the 1st half next season goes like the 2nd half this season all the players they depleted the farm system for should help replenish the farm. 

Buxton: Plan for 60 games hope for 100..Whatelse can you do?

Busted pitching pipeline: Duran, Jax, Ober, Winder, Varland and to some degree Ryan may argue with you on that. No none are an Ace today. 

Yes, not signing impact free agent pitching and the lack of quality bull pen signings drives me nuts...If it's gospel that two times through the order or 80-100 pitches is it...It would make sense to invest in the BP or impact starters. 

[LastOnePicked]

20 hours ago, SwainZag said:

Starting Pitchers that "should" be options:  Maeda, Mahle, Gray, Ryan, Ober, Varland, Winder, Sands with SWR seemingly fighting his way as well.  That's a lot of options. 

First, I loved the response. I think it's a thoughtful take and a lot more generous and hopeful than my own. But, I really think I'd caution anyone who feels good about these options going forward. Two are veterans with MAJOR injury questions marks (Maeda, Mahle). Two are promising young starters with MAJOR injury question marks (Ober, Winder). Two are completely unproven commodities (Sands, SWR). And two are #3-#4 starters at best on a playoff-caliber team (Gray, Ryan). That's not what I'd call a lot of options that the team can bank on for 2023, no. And beyond those we mentioned, there are virtually no top arms waiting in the wings in the minors.

Add to that, this will be a club with a brand new pitching coach with no relationships with the players on which to build. 

So, pessimism is warranted. And it may not even be an issue of them all experiencing injuries in 2023. This just isn't a team that can stack up against the competition. There are no elite players at any position, with the exception of our platoon CF, who is also injury prone.

I stand by my argument: the time for a total system rebuild is now.