The Mind Trick that Afflicts Twins Fans

[Greggory Masterson]

Our brains play tricks on us. One is forgetting things exist when we don't see them.

Image courtesy of © Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

The human brain is fantastic, but it doesn't have the power to consider everything. For example, before you read this sentence, you ignored that you could see your nose. Your mind had been ignoring that because it's not essential.

Cognitive psychologists refer to our brains' shortcuts as heuristics or cognitive biases. There's nothing wrong with them, but they're important to remember. They play a part in the way we watch sports.

There are popular shortcuts that many people know about, such as anchoring, where we tend to base our opinions on something more in a first impression than information we learn later. I won't name names, but some schmucks may still think Miguel Sanó could be an MVP based solely on his 2015 rookie campaign.

Confirmation bias leads us to latch on to evidence that supports our preconceived notions over evidence against them. Perhaps another person supports their disdain for Miguel Sanó because of his many strikeouts, ignoring his 500-foot moonshots.

If this stuff interests you, check out this very approachable list of a few dozen different biases and heuristics). There's a well-known bias that explains what I'm going to discuss, so I'll dip into developmental psychology for this discussion.

Two episodes from the last year or so stand out to me when I think about how our brains consume sports, not so much because of what happened, but because of people's reactions.

1. After a disappointing 73-89 2021 season, owner Jim Pohlad gave the front office an A+ grade. 

2. During the 2022 season, the Twins were not completely transparent about Byron Buxton 's schedule as he worked through knee pain.

In both episodes, fans and media were in the streets wailing and gnashing their teeth. Both instances were frustrating, but were they worth the consternation they received?

One of the points in an infant's growth that developmental psychologists have identified is the development of object permanence. If you've ever played peek-a-boo with an infant, you will have seen it in action. When the adult's face hides behind the hands, then reappears, the infant gets excited because, before the face reappears, they didn't think it existed anymore.

Infants struggle to understand that things they don't see can still exist. It is a bit wild to think about. Sometimes I'm, as an adult, convinced that I don't own buffalo sauce until my wife points out the bottle in the fridge and the bottle next to it from the last time I didn't think we had any.

But enough about buffalo sauce, how does object permanence pertain to what I'm talking about here?

In the first example, many fans took Jim's comments to mean that he genuinely had no issues with how the season went and was perfectly pleased. Because this was, for the most part, the amount of information fans had to go off of, it seemed like his complete thoughts on the topic.

We, as fans, are not privy to the conversations behind closed doors between an owner and upper management of the team. Heck, others in baseball operations aren't made aware of every conversation. We can forget that.

Instead, we latch on to the soundbite and forget that the group is constantly communicating for the other 364 days a year, working toward their shared goals. Because we don't see it, though, it doesn't exist.

Please don't read this as me saying that there shouldn't be criticism of the group. We sometimes pay too much attention to the tiny bits of interaction with which we are privileged.

The second example, regarding Bryon's knee, is a bit more egregious. Following his knee flair-up in Boston last April, his presence in the lineup was a bit scattershot, which was obviously frustrating for fans—if for no other reason than that fans want to see the best players play.

However, there was a common attitude that Byron's seemingly haphazard presence in the lineup was evidence that there was "no plan" for him to play. Why? Because the team did not make any statement on his status on a day-to-day basis.

In reality, the team was monitoring his knee and its pain and range of motion daily—adjusting whenever needed. It makes sense that no team personnel would make an official statement regarding his expectations because the situation was developing.

This lack of information led some fans to see the handling as incompetent, and they believed that the team lacked a plan for getting him back out there.

Instead, behind the scenes, Buxton spent hours every day working on getting his body ready to compete. His situation was fluid, and the team was adapting to new information daily. But we, as fans, had no explicit information telling us this, so instead, because we couldn't see it, our brains told us that nothing was happening.

Perhaps there's an argument that teams should be more forthcoming with information so that fans can make more informed reactions. Still, we would have blind spots that our brains would fill in.

It's important to remember that pro sports are filled with professionals working full-time jobs. The people on the other side of the glass spend their entire days making decisions about the team that we watch for four hours a day with a rain delay. They want to win more than you want them to (with minimal exceptions).

If we fall into the trap of believing that what we see in press conferences or public statements is the entirety of the situation, our opinions can become relatively uninformed.

Some people may be incompetent at their jobs and worthy of criticism, but that criticism should be based on what we can observe rather than the gaps our brains fill in. Remember that even if we don't see it, things are happening.

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[Mark G]

That was the longest way of saying cut them some slack I have ever read. 😉

And that is saying something with this team, as the people who talk to us are the best I have ever seen at using more words to say nothing than anyone else in my life. 😏

Seriously, all I ask of them is just be honest with the people who pay their bills........US.  If they would tell us everything Greggory just talked about, they might take a whole lot less heat.  Because Greggory is right; when there is a gap in knowledge, we will fill it in ourselves - right or wrong.  Well, most of us will.  I am always right.  😇

 

[mikelink45]

I believe the take away is that the teams spend as much time bullshitting us to think they have their act together as they do actually attempting to get their acts together. 

[LA VIkes Fan]

interesting article. As someone who is the managing partner of a law firm, I completely understand why the FO isn’t constantly updating us on progress. Because if they did that, they couldn’t do their real job of running the team. Everybody wants information, and giving them complete daily information we make it impossible to do much of anything else. And worse, if you give people partial information, then they anchor their thinking based on information that becomes quickly outdated. One of the things that we have to understand about sports teams, and frankly about business in general, is there is a lot of information we will never know and really have no right or need to know. we need to let these guys do their jobs, update us as they find necessary, and then hold them accountable for the results. That does not include getting involved in the details or day-to-day changes.

[LastOnePicked]

"We, as fans, are not privy to the conversations behind closed doors between an owner and upper management of the team. Heck, others in baseball operations aren't made aware of every conversation. We can forget that."

With respect, I just don't think this is the issue. At all. Most fans, if not all fans, are very aware that other conversations were happening behind closed doors. The issue that the most critical fans (myself included) have is that we see patterns of perception and behavior from this FO that don't seem well-aligned to success. One of those is an unrealistic vision of the team's readiness to compete. For example, for all of the hype last offseason after the lockout, the Twins remained a team that was putting too much weight on an injury-free Buxton, an untested rotation and a shaky bullpen. Correa was great to have, but Cleveland was better-built for success. Results proved that to be true.

"Some people may be incompetent at their jobs and worthy of criticism, but that criticism should be based on what we can observe rather than the gaps our brains fill in. Remember that even if we don't see it, things are happening."

We can debate all day long about the mentality of the fans, but the most observable facts are these: this is not an organization that develops pitching well, plays fundamentally-sound baseball, can either select healthy players or keep players healthy, or actually wins games when it counts. There is no other team in MLB without a playoff win in the last 19 years. There's really nothing else to argue about, is there? The team simply has to silence its critics and its doubters. Until then, at least consider listening to the skeptics. We've been watching this all unfold for a very long time.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

36 minutes ago, LastOnePicked said:

"We, as fans, are not privy to the conversations behind closed doors between an owner and upper management of the team. Heck, others in baseball operations aren't made aware of every conversation. We can forget that."

With respect, I just don't think this is this issue. At all. Most fans, if not all fans, are very aware that other conversations were happening behind closed doors. The issue that the most critical fans (myself included) have is that we see patterns of perception and behavior from this FO that don't seem well-aligned to success. One of those is an unrealistic vision of the team's readiness to compete. For example, for all of the hype last offseason after the lockout, the Twins remained a team that was putting too much weight on an injury-free Buxton, an untested rotation and a shaky bullpen. Correa was great to have, but Cleveland was better-built for success. Results proved that to be true.

"Some people may be incompetent at their jobs and worthy of criticism, but that criticism should be based on what we can observe rather than the gaps our brains fill in. Remember that even if we don't see it, things are happening."

We can debate all day long about the mentality of the fans, but the most observable facts are these: this is not an organization that develops pitching well, plays fundamentally-sound baseball, can either select healthy players or keep players healthy, or actually wins games when it counts. There is no other team in MLB without a playoff win in the last 19 years. There's really nothing else to argue about, is there? The team simply has to silence its critics and its doubters. Until then, at least consider listening to the skeptics. We've been watching this all unfold for a very long time.

To paraphrase actor Cuba Gooding in the movie, "Jerry McGuire":   "Show me the wins Jerry! Show me the wins!"

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Really interesting post Greggory. Do you know if the Twins employ a sports psychologist? Do many professional athletic teams employ one?  I hope you will apply your knowledge of psychology and human behavior to future articles. I was fascinated by your post. Thank you.

[Brandon]

A new psychology practice is formed 

a fans psychology firm to help Minnesota fans cope with 18 straight playoff losses in a row.  Cost is $500 for a 45 minute session.  There are other sessions in development like how to handle the news or misinformation from management or Coping  with Arreaz trades and if you act now you can get the How to deal with Pagan’s pitching results.  

[gunnarthor]

There's enough observable results to condemn this FO. Suggesting that people who do criticize them think like children probably says more about the writer then critics of the FO. 

This FO failed to augment the nucleus they inherited, they failed to extend the window of contention, and they've failed to produce a pitching pipeline. We're very likely looking at another listing season. 

[Nine of twelve]

58 minutes ago, Brandon said:

A new psychology practice is formed 

a fans psychology firm to help Minnesota fans cope with 18 straight playoff losses in a row.  Cost is $500 for a 45 minute session.  There are other sessions in development like how to handle the news or misinformation from management or Coping  with Arreaz trades and if you act now you can get the How to deal with Pagan’s pitching results.  

Who is Arreaz?

[stringer bell]

I don't know if the Twins have been more or less transparent than other organizations. The fanbase is due for success, in particular in the postseason, and so there is less patience for the lack of transparency here. 

Last season's Buxton "management" was puzzling to me. It seemed a long shot to keep their brightest star on the field and in a limited capacity. 

[Teflon]

1 hour ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

Really interesting post Greggory. Do you know if the Twins employ a sports psychologist? Do many professional athletic teams employ one?  I hope you will apply your knowledge of psychology and human behavior to future articles. I was fascinated by your post. Thank you.

With this team, I think we fans would benefit more from the sports psychologist. The Saints used to have Sister Rosalind. Maybe the Twins could put in an ASMR section.

[Greggory Masterson]

1 hour ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

Really interesting post Greggory. Do you know if the Twins employ a sports psychologist? Do many professional athletic teams employ one?  I hope you will apply your knowledge of psychology and human behavior to future articles. I was fascinated by your post. Thank you.

I think most have some sport psychology presence. Many times they won’t be listed on the directory because they’re a consultant or a private firm. Bringing someone in from outside the org helps players, because they’re more open with people from outside the team. 

[Greggory Masterson]

1 hour ago, Brandon said:

A new psychology practice is formed 

a fans psychology firm to help Minnesota fans cope with 18 straight playoff losses in a row.  Cost is $500 for a 45 minute session.  There are other sessions in development like how to handle the news or misinformation from management or Coping  with Arreaz trades and if you act now you can get the How to deal with Pagan’s pitching results.  

$500 may be too low for the amount of grief the shrink would have to sort through

[Greggory Masterson]

36 minutes ago, gunnarthor said:

There's enough observable results to condemn this FO. Suggesting that people who do criticize them think like children probably says more about the writer then critics of the FO. 

This FO failed to augment the nucleus they inherited, they failed to extend the window of contention, and they've failed to produce a pitching pipeline. We're very likely looking at another listing season. 

I do want to be clear, referencing object permanence wasn’t a dig. It was an example of how brains develop. I was hoping no one ended up taking it that way.
 

The aim of this article was to challenge the tendency to latch onto public statements and whatnot and see them as representative and meaningful, as opposed to what we can actually see (transactions, results), so I think we’re on the same page here.

[Nashvilletwin]

Not to be overly cynical, but don’t most people by now just expect that everyone making some sort of public statement is basically lying.  Seriously, which public figure doesn’t lie? Please feel free to name a single one you trust to tell you the whole truth - not their “truth” they want you to believe. No really, if you have one example, please share it - many of us probably could use the positive example.
 

I, for one, do not expect to believe, nor really care, what the owners, FO, or Rocco have to say. Like all public figures, they have an agenda.  So yeah, I’ll listen, but if what their mouths are spewing doesn’t match what my eyes and brain are telling me (i.e. J. Pohlad’s “the FO deserves an A+“ - I mean, seriously?), then I’ll simply dismiss what they say (and that just makes their credibility that much harder to attain).  Sure, I might be the one who has the “truth” wrong sometimes, but I sure as hell will form my own judgements.  

[dxpavelka]

It's just a game boys and girls.

[Whitey333]

What a terrible article this was.  How dare any fans criticize the great results of this twins team.  They've been spinning their wheels basically for the past 20 years.  Yet fans who disagree with the FO etc. are blasted in articles like this because we don't understand.  What??  What kind of crap is this.  It also is frustrating when articles like this keep telling us fans that we don't know what we are talking about or are stupid.  Don't talk down to the fans.  The FO should be a little more open.  This team plays boring, uninspired, and undisciplined baseball overseen by a manage that has the same qualities.  Just because we don't always agree we with their philosophy doesn't mean we should be denigrated or talked down to.  

[terrydactyls]

8 hours ago, Nashvilletwin said:

Not to be overly cynical, but don’t most people by now just expect that everyone making some sort of public statement is basically lying.  Seriously, which public figure doesn’t lie? Please feel free to name a single one you trust to tell you the whole truth - not their “truth” they want you to believe. No really, if you have one example, please share it - many of us probably could use the positive example.
 

Hubert Horatio Humphrey was the last public person who I actually felt was telling the truth (at least most of the time).

[tarheeltwinsfan]

29 minutes ago, Whitey333 said:

What a terrible article this was.  How dare any fans criticize the great results of this twins team.  They've been spinning their wheels basically for the past 20 years.  Yet fans who disagree with the FO etc. are blasted in articles like this because we don't understand.  What??  What kind of crap is this.  It also is frustrating when articles like this keep telling us fans that we don't know what we are talking about or are stupid.  Don't talk down to the fans.  The FO should be a little more open.  This team plays boring, uninspired, and undisciplined baseball overseen by a manage that has the same qualities.  Just because we don't always agree we with their philosophy doesn't mean we should be denigrated or talked down to.  

On the contrary, I found this article to be fascinating. I did not feel that I was being "talked down to" by the author of this article. He was not saying "don't criticize the FO or the manager or the players".  But I respect that you feel this way. If the author were trying to talk down to us TD posters and Twins fans, he would have called our comments "crap" or written that we "don't know what we are talking about" or "we don't understand", or we are "stupid". Hmmmm. 

[LastOnePicked]

50 minutes ago, Whitey333 said:

They've been spinning their wheels basically for the past 20 years.

This. Look, the Twins' biggest issues have absolutely nothing to do with the fans' collective mentality or what their harshest critics are "missing" in their thinking process. The Twins biggest issues are perpetually failing to field a fiercely competitive team. It's why some of us wanted to see a total organizational rebuild before watching them spend $150M on an injury-prone roster of players. I'd rather watch an emerging nucleus of promising, tough rookies gel over the next six years instead of having to say a prayer every time Mahle throws a fastball, Buxton makes a leap or Correa slides into second. 2022-23 made it pretty clear that it's time to move on and turn the page for this inept franchise.

Maybe we should be spending more time analyzing what the FO and coaches are constantly getting wrong (in terms of philosophy and practice) than what the fans are missing in terms of perception. That's all. :)

[Fire Dan Gladden]

We all know what happens when we assume.

But that is what we do.  Twins Daily would not exist if we as fans did not nitpick and extrapolate from every move, comment, and observation.

 

[Mark G]

9 hours ago, dxpavelka said:

It's just a game boys and girls.

I know what you are saying, but I would respectfully disagree.  It is not America's game, it is America's pastime.  It has been part of the country's culture for well over a century.  It is a great distraction from the rest of the world.  It is something kids have dreamt about for lifetimes.  We idolize the players (or at least used to).  We pay money to see them play a game that we ourselves played and still could, if we slow it down to our level.  Why?  Because there is something magical about it.  And since we are paying to see it, the folks selling it to us should be a bit more considerate to their customers.  It becomes "our" team after a while, even if we do not actually own it.  They do not see it that way, it appears, so what we see today is the result.  It could be so much different.  Couldn't it?  

[Craig Arko]

“These are not the fans you are looking for.”

[MMMordabito]

This has got to be the worst article I've read on this site since the one about Josh Donaldson being one of the most despised Twins ever.  Was this an assignment for your "How To Condescend Your Readers 101" class?

[Blyleven2011]

Im for the team to be straight forward on addressing the fans with the answers whether good or bad want to hear ...

They continue to tell us one thing and do a complete 360 and do something else  , they won't tell us about a players full condition because  as Rocco stated it's their right to privacy  ...

Our FO and Rocco plan on being in government after their careers are finished ....

[chpettit19]

Are fans seeing other organizations saying more than the Twins do? I'm seriously surprised every time I see these kinds of comments. The fans want the Twins to win, but they also want them to give all their secrets away publicly so they have an idea of what's going on. Why in the world would Rocco come out before a game and say Buxton, or any player, isn't feeling 100% that day so that's why he won't be stealing bases today? Why would you ever come out and tell your competitors which players are struggling with what during the season? Why would you ever tell your competitors what your team building strategy is? I seriously don't understand why fans think the Twins should, or would, do this. 

"Hey, be more competitive, but also tell the whole world how you're going to do it!" is a weird stance to me. Seriously don't understand what fans think the team would gain from that.

[ashbury]

The Twins are going to win 100 games in 2023 and I am seriously uninterested in hearing any information to the contrary.

/ am I doing this right?

[adorduan]

Here's the problem with your argument. You are projecting your beliefs without proof. you say Buxton was spending hours a day preparing to try to play. yet you admit that the team never said that. So maybe he was and maybe he wasn't. Unless you were in the room with him, you are just guessing. Same with the Pohlad argument. Unless you were in the room with him and the other leaders, you have no idea what they said or were working or had agreed to. You claim people are filling in the blanks because they don't have all the information. you are doing the same thing just in the other direction. Again, unless you are physically there in the room with these people all the time, you are just guessing as to what's really going on.

[LastOnePicked]

1 hour ago, ashbury said:

The Twins are going to win 100 games in 2023

😀 Hope ... now that's the ultimate mind trick that afflicts us Twins fans.