Article: Moving Goalposts

[twinsnorth49]

It's tough to sell the future as a reason to be interested in the present.

 

They had the opportunity and means to put a better product on the field in 2014, clear needs that matched available players, and the real kicker...none of it would have negatively impacted the future in any significant manner.

 

That they chose not to pursue that is their choice to make, of course, but it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that interest in the Twins is down, and almost certainly hasn't bottomed out.

 

This is pretty much my feeling on the whole issue. I'm frustrated by their singular approach and easy willingness to sell the future, when they have the opportunity to pursue both that and continue to improve the product they are selling in the present. It's costing this team more than it needs to in the short term.

 

But I'll continue to watch, take my kids, spend all my money and hope for the best every game despite it all.

[Nick Nelson]

Pessimism is a self-fulfilling prophesy. It's all too easy to project regression and injuries.

 

Regression and injuries have been the story of the last three years, consistently. That's not pessimism, it's realism. You can cross your fingers and hope for better luck (hey, it's what I'm doing) but you still need to be prepared for a few harsh outcomes.

 

The fact is that this team looks very questionable at several positions and lacks quality depth to insure against things going wrong.

 

I cannot understand how you can write this yet still be an optimistic fan unless one is taking the extremely long view. It's a compelling argument for pessimism when I read it.

 

Let me put it this way: When I write analytically I tend to follow the signs. But some things can't be predicted. Signs didn't point toward the Indians in 2013, or the Orioles in 2012.

 

The Twins have a lot of players with ability, and some interesting wild cards in the mix (namely Meyer and Buxton, who could become factors a lot more quickly than you might think). I'm trying to focus on those things for now.

[Don't Feed the Greed Guy]

Nick, I find myself in group A: I'm a quietly supportive believer in franchise development after prolonged disappointments. Will 2014 be remembered as when the Curse of the Trees infected not only the majors, but metastasized into the bone marrow of Buxton, Rosario, and Sano?

 

All I know is that I fell in love with Camden Yards in September of 2006.

 

The Baltimore fan base had written off the O's after what would become a 69-93 season, their ninth straight season below .500.

 

The night before I watched the Twins, in a playoff chase, lose 6-0 to the Red Sox as David Ortiz destroyed Jimmy Foxx's single-season home run record at Fenway Park, homering off Johann Santana in the 1st, and Matt Guerrier in the 7th. Ortiz homered off Boof Bonser the night before to tie Double X. But for my buddy and I, our road trip was just beginning.

 

I drove through the night to Baltimore, where the tickets were CHEAP! Everyone in Baltimore and Camden Yards, it seemed, had given up hope for owner Peter Angelos, who would hire Andy MacPhail to run the organization nine months later, in June of 2007.

 

Did I say that the tickets were CHEAP? My buddy and I went to the first (9/22/06) game with tickets purchased for a song off of a 2nd market website. On Saturday (9/23) my buddy & I planned to enter the scalpers' den outside Camden to find the cheapest seats available. No worries. A father and son walked past us in the parking lot and asked if we had tickets. "No" was our answer. They gave us two seats halfway between home plate and first base, right over the Orioles dugout, for free.

 

So, what's the moral of the story? Be prepared to enjoy some good seats this summer. I hear Andy MacPhail is still looking for a job, after he and Buck Schowalter manufactured the O's return to the postseason.

 

Type A fans can hopefully appreciate the empty seats, and a better vantage point on a team that wants to manufacture hope while the fair-weather-fan-base dwindles.

 

As for me, I'll be watching the future from the cheap seats--and I wouldn't mind being surprised into spending more for those seats as the summer progresses. All the same, it just might be time for the groundskeepers at Target Field to start planting some trees.

[Jham]

All the same' date=' it just might be time for the groundskeepers at Target Field to start planting some trees.[/quote']

 

It can't hurt!

 

For those pessimists in group 2, at this time last year, Pinto was barely a fringe prospect, Deduno was a curiosity, and Dozier was a failed shortstop. Thielbar was a nice story with a local angle, and Perkins was an untested closer. My point is, you never know who might jump up and surprise. Right now, we have to enjoy those little things.

[troyhobbs]

I continue to believe that if you are good enough to play in the majors. You are good enough to help your team win games.

 

I believe in Mo... I believe in energy. I believe all 30 teams have a chance to surprise and disappoint.

 

I believe the difference between the 50th best player in the major leagues and 300th best player is extremely slight in the grand scheme of the game.

 

I also believe that if the Twins played with the energy they displayed last year. They have no chance.

 

Put me in camp 2 and not a believer in the difference between the 50th best player in the major leagues and 300th best player is extremely slight theory. At any rate, for $8 a beer you should be able to watch a better baseball game.

[ND-Fan]

The Twins have been caught by believing that talent they had would develop and be better than they have received from these players. Parmelee a number one draft pick hasn't progressed as figured and so put the Twins in position of keeping him or should have moved on a year or so ago. Same thing for Plouffe shown flashes of brilliance but so far hasn't lived up to Twins plan and now gotten to point that his replacement is not far off but will be unavailable this year. Hicks got pushed and took a step backward and now his replacement is year to two years away. Willingham looked good first year and last year got hurt and was ineffective and now he just looks like he gotten old and where do you play him and his contract protects him on the team. The Twins if they would have signed few players back couple years ago for offense would have put little more offense into the team now. Now were faced with this year and potential of prospects coming in next couple years so we are facing this year and next year before we can significant improvement coming to this baseball team. I think that has been reasoning behind pitchers signings they all were based on how soon they would have prospects replace them. Pelfry was signed for two years about time projection for Myer to just arrive from minors and also for Twins being able to trade Pelfry for prospect late into next year. Hughes was signed for three years enough time for one next hot prospects to make it up to big league club. Also one of the reasons looking to extend Correia contract as well still at least two years until one of the other minor league prospects to arrive. Nolasco was signed for four year deal with 5 year option to provide pitcher to fill in at back of the rotation as well as be veteran to teach kids how to play in the big leagues. The thing that worries all of us were seeing that this top talent looks like it just around corner but were also seeing how unplanned injuries could blow the whole plan up and we could easily see another 3 to 4 years disappear we can put a winning team on the field.

Ryans plan is logical and fiscally sound if these prospects pan out as figured and if this doesn't happen we could easily see decade of loosing. Twins ownership I think believes that we can be back to contender with the list of prospects shortly. If this plan doesn't work I am afraid ownership may just clean house and start over with both GM and coaching and at same time this will be complete turn over organization putting us back again number of years. I as fan pray this plan works or I will have endure many years of teams like we have experienced. The other problem if this plan doesn't work is Twins will have lost whole generation of young fans. Believe me this already happening my son who liked Twins and was becoming a fan has lost interest these past several years. His line or take on this they were playing so poorly it wasn't even fun to watch them and he said his friends were saying same thing it wasn't fun watching them and especially when they have been loosing like they have past several years.

The moving from Metro Dome to Target field has brought baseball back to the true fan and ones that love to watch a baseball game but now with loosing team were seeing why in past Twins of past pushed for indoor stadium. The cold weather hurt attendance and also brought on more injuries to team early in the season. I can remember like yesterday Twins organization talking of these problems and how it starting to show it head again when Twins are not competitive. Also I think the Twins were not prepared for change in how Target field would effect performance of type player they were drafting. AS much as true fan hated the Dome it did give Twins huge home field advantage and players we have now would have performed better in the Dome. Flormin, Escobar, and even Dozier the way they hit ground balls would have had higher average hitting and they would have shined with there speed on artificial turf defending with always getting nice hop to field. Mauer would be hitting more home runs and Arcia would have hit ton of home runs in the Dome. So moving to Target field has effect on Twins performance but Target field provided so much more in revenue so the Twins should have been able to buy and get type of player that would have performed better in Target field. The Twins not addressing their weaknesses and going to free agent market last couple of years to fill in the blanks have cost the Twins dearly. I am betting if you had cost analysis you will see where being penny wise is going to be dollar foolish in the end. The Twins will have lost more money than they have saved and weakened brand of Twins for number of years to come.

My hope as true fan is this group of players can out perform last years numbers and be respectable team by year end. My hopes would be if they could get to 75 to 78 wins this coming year but my fears are they could approach that 100 win loss if few things don't go as planned.

[cmathewson]

Regression and injuries have been the story of the last three years, consistently. That's not pessimism, it's realism. You can cross your fingers and hope for better luck (hey, it's what I'm doing) but you still need to be prepared for a few harsh outcomes.

 

The fact is that this team looks very questionable at several positions and lacks quality depth to insure against things going wrong.

 

 

 

Let me put it this way: When I write analytically I tend to follow the signs. But some things can't be predicted. Signs didn't point toward the Indians in 2013, or the Orioles in 2012.

 

The Twins have a lot of players with ability, and some interesting wild cards in the mix (namely Meyer and Buxton, who could become factors a lot more quickly than you might think). I'm trying to focus on those things for now.

 

Regression happens to every player. In some cases, that means improvement. I am concerned about some of the depth, especially at third base. But it is highly unlikely all the injuries you speculate about will happen at the same time. That's my point.

 

When you make projections, you do a statistical analysis of the probability of regression for each player given their career averages and age/performance considerations and you come out with the most likely scenario. You don't speculate on what will happen if every player got worse or hurt.

[tharasix]

It's tough to sell the future as a reason to be interested in the present.

 

They had the opportunity and means to put a better product on the field in 2014, clear needs that matched available players, and the real kicker...none of it would have negatively impacted the future in any significant manner.

 

That they chose not to pursue that is their choice to make, of course, but it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that interest in the Twins is down, and almost certainly hasn't bottomed out.

 

Just because they didn't sign any real offensive threats doesn't mean they weren't trying. In fact, Antony said recently that they were just turned down by a lot of folks. Sure, they could way overpay for some guys and get them, but I'm willing to bet others wouldn't play here for any amount of money. When the details of the Twins offer to Ervin Santana came out, the reaction on the boards here was that it was a fair offer, and it wouldn't have made a lot of sense to offer more.

 

To say that the Twins didn't sign people implies they weren't really trying is a big assumption based on a lot of missing facts.

[cmathewson]

Regression and injuries have been the story of the last three years, consistently. That's not pessimism, it's realism. You can cross your fingers and hope for better luck (hey, it's what I'm doing) but you still need to be prepared for a few harsh outcomes.

 

The fact is that this team looks very questionable at several positions and lacks quality depth to insure against things going wrong.

 

 

 

Let me put it this way: When I write analytically I tend to follow the signs. But some things can't be predicted. Signs didn't point toward the Indians in 2013, or the Orioles in 2012.

 

I think some of those things can be predicted. It is just more difficult.

 

To put it another way, it is as unlikely that everyone will get worse or hurt as it is that everyone will get better and stay healthy. Figuring out which ones are most likely to improve and stay healthy and which ones are not takes work and scouting.

[Mr. Brooks]

Just because they didn't sign any real offensive threats doesn't mean they weren't trying. In fact, Antony said recently that they were just turned down by a lot of folks. Sure, they could way overpay for some guys and get them, but I'm willing to bet others wouldn't play here for any amount of money. When the details of the Twins offer to Ervin Santana came out, the reaction on the boards here was that it was a fair offer, and it wouldn't have made a lot of sense to offer more.

 

To say that the Twins didn't sign people implies they weren't really trying is a big assumption based on a lot of missing facts.

 

Well last time I checked, Ryan, Anthony, and the rest of the FO personnel are paid to do a job, and paid quite handsomely.

 

I don't know how things work at your job, but I know at my job (and most), I don't get a whole lot of credit for "trying". I get paid for results, and results only.

 

Perhaps if the members of the FO can't figure out a way to sell their team to free agents, they should be replaced with someone who can.

[cmathewson]

Free agency is not like going to the grocery store. It is more like an auction system in which you're recruiting players to play for you. Players don't just look at dollars when you do this. They look at the scale of the opportunity, competitive issues, location, etc. By scale, I mean, how likely is it that the player will be a fixture with the team to justify a long-term contract. In the case of the Twins, there is only one position where a guy can see long-term scale, and that is shortstop. Every other position looks to be occupied by a top prospect or star player by 2016.

 

There weren't any good shortstops this year. I know some people thought Drew was a good one, but he's a short-term stop gap at best. As was the case with pitching last year, the Twins decided to pass and perhaps try again next year. I can't really fault them for that.

 

So we are where we are. Let's see how they play. It does no good to mope about what might happen.

[Mr. Brooks]

Free agency is not like going to the grocery store. It is more like an auction system in which you're recruiting players to play for you. Players don't just look at dollars when you do this. They look at the scale of the opportunity, competitive issues, location, etc. By scale, I mean, how likely is it that the player will be a fixture with the team to justify a long-term contract. In the case of the Twins, there is only one position where a guy can see long-term scale, and that is shortstop. Every other position looks to be occupied by a top prospect or star player by 2016.

 

There weren't any good shortstops this year. I know some people thought Drew was a good one, but he's a short-term stop gap at best. As was the case with pitching last year, the Twins decided to pass and perhaps try again next year. I can't really fault them for that.

 

So we are where we are. Let's see how they play. It does no good to mope about what might happen.

 

Free agents who are good enough to look for long term deals aren't worried about prospects behind them.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Just because they didn't sign any real offensive threats doesn't mean they weren't trying. In fact, Antony said recently that they were just turned down by a lot of folks. Sure, they could way overpay for some guys and get them, but I'm willing to bet others wouldn't play here for any amount of money. When the details of the Twins offer to Ervin Santana came out, the reaction on the boards here was that it was a fair offer, and it wouldn't have made a lot of sense to offer more.

 

To say that the Twins didn't sign people implies they weren't really trying is a big assumption based on a lot of missing facts.

 

Well, Santana (and Garza) are pitchers. IIRC, the only strong rumors for position players were both catchers (Salty and AJ) -- where the Twins actually have their most MLB ready prospect!

 

To be fair, I didn't see a whole lot of strong FA position players this past offseason, especially if you throw out Drew and Morales (who knows what Boras is up to there). But there have been a few who signed short reasonable deals and who could have at least provided more competition/depth (and greater potential returns than Kubel/Bartlett).

[Otto von Ballpark]

In the case of the Twins, there is only one position where a guy can see long-term scale, and that is shortstop. Every other position looks to be occupied by a top prospect or star player by 2016.

 

And you wonder why some of us look like pessimists compared to you?

 

The Twins would basically have to go something like 7-for-8 in converting their closest position player and starting pitcher prospects into MLB starters by 2016 in order for this to be true.

 

As good as the farm system is, that would take an incredible amount of luck, particularly when only one of the prospects in question (Pinto) has appeared above AA, and in fact only 3-4 other key prospects have even played at the AA level so far.

 

I'm pretty sure MLB free agents aren't counting on that (particularly those signing 1 to 3 year deals, which is the vast majority), and I hope that kind of outlook isn't driving our MLB-level decision-making either.

[Otto von Ballpark]

If either Brian Dozier or Trevor Plouffe fails to deliver or suffers a major injury, there's no appealing option to step in as an impact starter.

 

Nick: to be fair, "impact starter" is a pretty high standard. Very few teams have potential impact starters on the sidelines unless they have a near-ready top prospect.

 

"Competent replacement" would probably be a better term, although that's still a weak point for the current Twins -- it's not at all clear that we have an MLB-caliber utility infielder, backup corner guy, or especially a 4th outfielder available at this point either.

[Badsmerf]

Nick, whenever you're ready to come over to the dark side I'll be here. Mismanagement and holding on the tired cliches have driven this organization to what it is. KC used to think their prospects were only a few years away 10 years ago. Is that where we're at? Lets slide by and sign mediocre guys that don't embarrass themselves every night?

 

I have serious questions about the offense, but at least the starting rotation should be better. That will make a big difference where this team ends up. At this point, we just have to hope the best for guys to develop and hit. Plouffe, Pinto, Arcia, Hicks, Dozier could all be solid. If they are, the Twins will be fine.

 

When Sano, Buxton and Rosario are regulars things will get easier.

[Boom Boom]

Free agency is not like going to the grocery store. It is more like an auction system in which you're recruiting players to play for you. Players don't just look at dollars when you do this. They look at the scale of the opportunity, competitive issues, location, etc. By scale, I mean, how likely is it that the player will be a fixture with the team to justify a long-term contract. In the case of the Twins, there is only one position where a guy can see long-term scale, and that is shortstop. Every other position looks to be occupied by a top prospect or star player by 2016.

 

There weren't any good shortstops this year. I know some people thought Drew was a good one, but he's a short-term stop gap at best. As was the case with pitching last year, the Twins decided to pass and perhaps try again next year. I can't really fault them for that.

 

So we are where we are. Let's see how they play. It does no good to mope about what might happen.

 

I'm of the belief that whether or not the team has a chance to win it all is a bigger factor in a free agent's decision than whether or not there's a prospect that may supplant them.

[Mike Sixel]

I'm with Mr. Brooks. It isn't the FO job to try to make the team better, it is their job to make it better. Two years ago, I was told to quit being so pessimistic, that 2014 would be better. Last year I was told to be patient, that next year or 2015 would be better. Now people are saying 2016 or 2017 will be better. It's fine if some of you are happy about that. It's fine if some people will pay serious money to watch a terrible product because they love baseball. But its also fine if some of us don't.

[MileHighTwinsFan]

Unprecedented losing? You clearly were not around during the waning years of the Griffith dynasty.

 

This franchise has been competitive for the better half of the last 25 years. We have seen futility before and we will see it again - but what is different now is that we have seen success and we like it. Our disappointment has more to do with our high expectations for what has become Minnesota's most successful sports franchise - (yes the bar is low).

 

The real disappointment this year is that the future remains on hold. I think our attitudes would have been much better if the likes of Sano and Rosario were waiting in the wings - certain to make their debuts this season.

 

As it is - with the exception of Alex Meyer - there is little on the short term horizon to be overly excited about.

 

So, let's adjust our expectations and look forward to a season with Kyle Gibson as a full time starter and an improved rotation, Oswaldo Arcia and Aaron Hicks hopefully taking the next step forward, and the debut of the hardest throwing starter since Scott Erickson - Alex Meyer.

 

Most important and above all let's enjoy watching Joe Mauer hit every day.

[Nick Nelson]

Regression happens to every player. In some cases, that means improvement. I am concerned about some of the depth, especially at third base. But it is highly unlikely all the injuries you speculate about will happen at the same time. That's my point.

 

When you make projections, you do a statistical analysis of the probability of regression for each player given their career averages and age/performance considerations and you come out with the most likely scenario. You don't speculate on what will happen if every player got worse or hurt.

 

As Lev has previously suggested, you were misreading that passage if you took it to indicate that I think all those things will happen.

 

The point was this: here are a number of plausible -- even likely -- things that could take place, and this club is ill-equipped to react to any of them. You only need a few of those outcomes to play out and you've potentially got major issues for an offense that was pretty bad already last year.

[Mike Sixel]

Disagree. I was also not happy with the lack of success before they were good. It isn't about changing expectations. It might be for you, but it isn't for "we".

[Nick Nelson]

Unprecedented losing? You clearly were not around during the waning years of the Griffith dynasty.

Ha, well you're right about that. But the Twins have never lost 291 games in a three-year span before, so the statement stands.

[Riverbrian]

In my opinion... The Front office probably has a plan B and a Plan C for CF and 3B.

 

With my eyes... it appears that we have no plan B for CF or 3B.

 

All eggs seem to be in the Hicks and Plouffe basket and that leaves me uneasy considering how Hicks and Plouffe performed in 2013.

[Mike Sixel]

In my eyes, there is a plan D and F for most positions (ironically, other than SP) this year. Let's hope for a nice change in luck and performance this year (or more like Dozier)......

[savvyspy]

The Fans are paying high ticket prices to see very bad baseball at Target Field.

The fans deserve to see an entertaining product on the field, regardless of what the future holds.

 

" I'm not sure the Twins realize the amount of anger which is building towards their Organization"

Patrick Reusse

 

I am paying thousands of dollars buying tickets for myself and some of my staff. Those tickets ALWAYS go up in price even when the organization is terrible. Target Field is a great place to go watch baseball but honestly there are games where I watch less than 3 innings of baseball. The team is that bad.

 

This front office has proven time and time again one of two things. Either they don't understand that the point of having a team is to win divisions and the World Series and they are working towards some other goal like making the Pohlads more money. Or 2, they are so inept and out of touch with how the game has changed that they have just fallen behind the rest of the league and can't compete.

 

I'd like to believe they don't think the entire fan base are complete morons so for now I'm giving them a pass on #1.

 

Honestly I wholeheartedly believe its #2. From Ryan to Bill Smith to Rob Antony to Gardy to Anderson I honestly believe this group distain for the changes in the game have led them to forge a path that increases their competitive disadvantage compared to the competition.

 

Ryan has proven he can't build a balanced decent roster. Even by spending some money he may have improved the pitching but he completely neglected an embarrassing bad lineup. That's not just bad luck. That's being a terrible GM. He completely ignored the entire lineup and pitching staff last year also. So most of it is on him. I give him some credit for restocking the minors through trades and the draft but you need to get your young talent to the majors. Putting guys like Kubel and Bartlett on the team do nothing toward freeing up roster spots for younger guys that need experience and are flat out better than these guys anyway.

 

The teams distain towards advanced analytics, lack of common sense strategy like platooning players, and continued mishandling of player injuries have all been documented so many times there's no need to do it again.

 

I get "being positive" but that has nothing to do with being a "real" fan. I'm not going to stand by and be lectured that I'm not a fan because I don't buy what this front office is selling. The fact of the matter is they play this game to win. The win-loss record is all the indicators you need for how well a front office and field management are performing. This one has continually failed massively 3 straight years and on paper this team could be as bad or worse than the previous three. They have to be accountable for improvement don't they? You don't just go from being a 95-100 loss team for 4 years to a contender. If you can't meet the low bar of improving this trainwreck then maybe its time to stop handing out contract extensions and clean house.

 

Being a fan involves going to games, watching them on tv, buying their merchandise, following them on the internet, and having a general interest in how they perform. It has nothing to do with agreeing with the front office, not pointing out when they make the same mistakes over and over, and not being upset as they fall further and further behind the competition.

[cmathewson]

Free agents who are good enough to look for long term deals aren't worried about prospects behind them.

 

No, but the Twins do. All things considered, they do not like to hire people for long-term deals when they have as good or better options a year or two down the road. And short-term options might give you a year or two above replcement level. But rarely do they make enough of a difference to be worth it.

[Winston Smith]

In my opinion... The Front office probably has a plan B and a Plan C for CF and 3B.

 

With my eyes... it appears that we have no plan B for CF or 3B.

 

All eggs seem to be in the Hicks and Plouffe basket and that leaves me uneasy considering how Hicks and Plouffe performed in 2013.

 

At this point I think the backup plan is for the PR department to buy more lipstick!

[mattkummer]

Agree, it sounds like they tried to spend. But, it's awfully tough convincing players to come to Minnesota after the last 2 winters we had and the likelihood of playing games outside in the 30's and 40's well into May, when the prospects of being a contender are slim to none. I'm not advocating a return to the Dome (it's torn down after all!), but it may be a factor.

Winning cures all.

 

First, props to Doc on saying that we're all real fans. Lots of divisiveness lately, and it's understandable why. You can look at all the numbers and information you want, but in the end, you're faced with the optimistic/pessimistic choice. That seems to be the source of the disagreement.

 

Second, just finished listening to Olney & Crasnick agree that the Twins will finish last in the ALC with 68 wins. At the same time I was reading Beardino's piece where Antony said the Twins couldn't give their money away this off season. Then I read about Buxton's injury...

Olney concluded that "it's going to be a tough year for a proud organization"- boy, he got that right.

 

Many of us have clamored to tap into the FA market to augment the farm, but if you can't give it away, and the up-and-comers are still on the way up, what can you do? We're on the horns of that dilemma now.

 

Same as Doc, I'll keep watching, looking for flashes wherever they appear. Dozier saved me last year, so I'll follow him closely. Being a Twins fan ain't for the faint of heart.

[Mike Sixel]

Actually, money cures most things. If they had offered A LOT MORE money to AJ, he probably would have come here. Not certainly, but probably......like, they have another 20million or so they could spend, if they offered AJ $5MM more, you think he would have said no?

 

Don't kid yourself, look where players sign. They sign for money first, winning second (or third, after location).

[Dr. Evil]

I am paying thousands of dollars buying tickets for myself and some of my staff. Those tickets ALWAYS go up in price even when the organization is terrible. Target Field is a great place to go watch baseball but honestly there are games where I watch less than 3 innings of baseball. The team is that bad.

 

This front office has proven time and time again one of two things. Either they don't understand that the point of having a team is to win divisions and the World Series and they are working towards some other goal like making the Pohlads more money. Or 2, they are so inept and out of touch with how the game has changed that they have just fallen behind the rest of the league and can't compete.

 

I'd like to believe they don't think the entire fan base are complete morons so for now I'm giving them a pass on #1.

 

Honestly I wholeheartedly believe its #2. From Ryan to Bill Smith to Rob Antony to Gardy to Anderson I honestly believe this group distain for the changes in the game have led them to forge a path that increases their competitive disadvantage compared to the competition.

 

Ryan has proven he can't build a balanced decent roster. Even by spending some money he may have improved the pitching but he completely neglected an embarrassing bad lineup. That's not just bad luck. That's being a terrible GM. He completely ignored the entire lineup and pitching staff last year also. So most of it is on him. I give him some credit for restocking the minors through trades and the draft but you need to get your young talent to the majors. Putting guys like Kubel and Bartlett on the team do nothing toward freeing up roster spots for younger guys that need experience and are flat out better than these guys anyway.

 

The teams distain towards advanced analytics, lack of common sense strategy like platooning players, and continued mishandling of player injuries have all been documented so many times there's no need to do it again.

 

I get "being positive" but that has nothing to do with being a "real" fan. I'm not going to stand by and be lectured that I'm not a fan because I don't buy what this front office is selling. The fact of the matter is they play this game to win. The win-loss record is all the indicators you need for how well a front office and field management are performing. This one has continually failed massively 3 straight years and on paper this team could be as bad or worse than the previous three. They have to be accountable for improvement don't they? You don't just go from being a 95-100 loss team for 4 years to a contender. If you can't meet the low bar of improving this trainwreck then maybe its time to stop handing out contract extensions and clean house.

 

Being a fan involves going to games, watching them on tv, buying their merchandise, following them on the internet, and having a general interest in how they perform. It has nothing to do with agreeing with the front office, not pointing out when they make the same mistakes over and over, and not being upset as they fall further and further behind the competition.

 

I could not agree more.