Reusse: Twins and timid intersect too often

[cmb0252]

While there has been a great deal of speculation about

Justin Morneau

and other Twins, rival executives haven’t sensed a big push from Minnesota to make deals, according to Buster Olney of ESPN.com (via Twitter).

Bah.

[TheLeviathan]

While there has been a great deal of speculation about

Justin Morneau

and other Twins, rival executives haven’t sensed a big push from Minnesota to make deals, according to Buster Olney of ESPN.com (via Twitter).

Bah.

 

[Kwak]

Maybe they are expecting a fire-sale and are grousing that one didn't happen?

[The Wise One]

So it sounds like you are making two points as to why the Twins should not have spent more money this offseason:

1) There wasn't much for free agent pitching to spend money on.

2) Even if the Twins had attained pitching, their position players weren't going to be good enough to content.

 

Is that correct?

 

If so, I'll start with #2: The Twins rank 10th in runs scored per game in the AL right now at 4.10. The only team that is below them but still in the race right now is the Yankees, or maybe the Royals. The Rangers are 9th, and of course are very much in the race. Oakland is 8th. So, had the Twins known what they know now about the hitting, it would have been tough for a pitching staff to compensate.

 

(FWIW, I don't think they did know that. I think they, like most of us, thought the offense would be a little better than average. I can't think of them giving any indication that they thought their offense would be below average.)

 

In order od need on position players SS,and 2B. Consider 3B, CF. If you are going into the season with an at best league average pitching staff I would think to be competitive you would need closer to a top 5 offense. If you believe that Plouffe could be good, the you need some on base potential at the top out of SS or 2B. The Twins really did not have that, nor was it readily available on the free agent market without giving up more runs on defense.

[chopper0080]

In order od need on position players SS,and 2B. Consider 3B, CF. If you are going into the season with an at best league average pitching staff I would think to be competitive you would need closer to a top 5 offense. If you believe that Plouffe could be good, the you need some on base potential at the top out of SS or 2B. The Twins really did not have that, nor was it readily available on the free agent market without giving up more runs on defense.

 

The Twins need pitching and pretty much only pitching. Why? Because we have stunk at developing our own pitching and we are too afraid to sign any top free agent pitchers. We don't need more prospect depth at infield positions, we need more pitching.

[ThePuck]

The Twins need pitching and pretty much only pitching. Why? Because we have stunk at developing our own pitching and we are too afraid to sign any top free agent pitchers. We don't need more prospect depth at infield positions, we need more pitching.

 

We do need pitching, a whole lot of pitching, but we have also stunk at developing our own MIs.

[chopper0080]

We do need pitching, a whole lot of pitching, but we have also stunk at developing our own MIs.

 

Which becomes a huge issue if you don't have pitching. Pedro Floriman is a fine MLB SS if we have legitimate pitching. Where he becomes an issue is when you have terrible pitching and terrible hitting. IMO, on a competitive team, Dozier and Floriman have a place on the roster. They aren't the long term problem. The long term problem is that in the best pitching enviornment baseball has seen in years, the Twins are terrible at SP.

[ThePuck]

Which becomes a huge issue if you don't have pitching. Pedro Floriman is a fine MLB SS if we have legitimate pitching. Where he becomes an issue is when you have terrible pitching and terrible hitting. IMO, on a competitive team, Dozier and Floriman have a place on the roster. They aren't the long term problem. The long term problem is that in the best pitching enviornment baseball has seen in years, the Twins are terrible at SP.

 

Pitchers, pitchers and more pitchers. When we're done with that, then let's go get some more pitchers :-)