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I'm not a fan of this FO but I can't believe they are done addressing pitching yet. They must have a trade in store. We have 30+ years of Pohlad ownership so I'll never blame the FO on payroll issues, which is what I think is stopping them from going after many of these arms. Falvey was hired to build a pitching pipeline, not rely on free agents. That's exactly why the Pohlad's hired him. We'll see if he can create one.

You hit the nail on the head. The biggest mistake was letting the Tigers out-bid them for Ed-Rod. I think he's going to have a pretty good year. The other mistake, failing with Ed-Rod who was signed very EARLY by the Tigers, was not recognizing their mistake quickly and making a big push for Robbie Ray or at least signing someone like Jon Gray. As I have pointed out numerous times and your article underscores: The Twins should not be THAT far from competing for the Division Crown. They were the two-time Division Winners in 2019 & 2020. In 2021, absolutely everything that could have gone wrong, DID go wrong. That's why this FO should be on the hot seat. In their time in charge, they've had two off seasons where EVERYTHING went wrong. That's not bad luck. That's badly miscalculating. That type of FO performance cannot be accepted.

There certainly is more risk with Byron than most players just based on his injury history. Still the way he looked last year I think that is risk that needs to be taken on. The fact he was willing to do an incentive laden contract means he absolutely believes in himself but even if he has a down year or two or three the Twins won't be paying 20 to 30 million for those years. 15 Million isn't chump change for this organization but Byron can be a top 10 player in the game and those types of players are very, very hard to find. I am a risk averse person but even I am ok with this deal. I don't often and maybe never have said this about a player but as a fan I really appreciated the way Byron handled his contract situation. He always said he wanted to stay and never complained about his service time manipulation or how negotiations were going. He bent his negotiating power to allow for an incentive laden contract all while keeping a great attitude. I just want to say thank you as a fan because I have cheered Byron on since MiLB ball. When he has played I have loved watching what he can do and I am very happy he will be a Twin through his prime. Honestly, I don't think he will disappoint us.

As far as I'm concerned there is no risk. If he produces, he gets the big $ if not he doesn't. When he's on the field he impacts the team, everyone is working to keep him on the field. He wanted to stay in MN., how many big name players would say that? Besides great speed he has great instincts which should keep him at CF for the duration of the contract. Because of his problems with the wall, he has dialed back his aggressiveness, even with some digression due to age IMO he'll still be well above average. Buxton has prove to be resilient, getting better every year. There's risk for any player to get in an accident (on or off the field) that they never really come back from. If MLB team take this into consideration there'd be zero contracts. Almost every big name player ever consider an incentive contract even if there is doubt about their health. We are blessed to have him for any amount of time he can give us.

It does not make sense to me to insist they made a mistake or they are waiting a year unless you can provide examples of below average revenue teams that went deep in the playoffs the year after adding the 3 SPs via trade/ free agency or a combination therefore of with 2 of those spots being the top of their rotation. Lots of insistence here that the appropriate strategy was obvious but not a single example of when it was successful. For every example provided of top free agents or trades for top SPs, I will come up with 3 success stories where the team was primarily built on players they drafted or traded for before they were established performers at the MLB level. It's not a mistake to follow the best practices. Let's see some examples of below ave Rev teams that built pitching staffs through trading for established SPs and/or signing top free agents.

I am a little confused by the logic behind the statement that the FO should be blamed for everything went wrong that could go wrong. It isn't their fault that Simmons refused vaccination, or injuries hit the team, or that players performed poorly. If those factors were known ahead of time, they would have been addressed. I am losing faith in the FO (just as most fans have) but I'm not about to blame them for things not in their control.

I always respected mlbn for being allowed to criticize mlb but I guess those days are over. Tow the company line, fellas.

I appreciate someone finally providing an example. However, how are the Giants relevant in a discussion about strategies employed by below average revenue teams? They are a top 5 team in terms of revenue. It's also not fair to just generalize they were FA acquisitions in the context of this discussion. The claim here is that the Twins failed strategically because they did not sign any of the top FAs which of course is consistent with long-term expensive free agents. The Giants top performer was signed in 2020 on a 1 year $9M deal and then resigned to a qualifying offer, another 1 year deal. That's hardly the same thing as what they are being criticized for here. And, BTW, they did not resign him (even with theri revenue) when it required a 5 year contract. There other top performer (Webb) was drafted. They also got solid production from Alex Wood on a 2/$25M contract. Also not at all the same as what people are calling for here and certainly not what the Twins need to get back in contention. They do have a huge contract on the books (Cueto) which produced virtually nothing after the first year. Equating how the Giants were built or where their production came from to the strategies being called for here is a real reach, huge revenue difference not withstanding.

We are all confused by the inaction, but we should not be surprised. This FO likes to wait - just ask Lynn - and take players that are ready for a bargain contract. Not a good strategy for a team that is ready to contend, but seems to be a Twins pattern.

what does Simmons missing 7 games have to do with this? Isn't it the FO that allowed Happ to pitch 98 innings with an ERA of 6.77, Shoemaker to pitch 60 innings with a 8.06 ERA, Jax to pitch 82 innings with a 6.37 ERA, Dobnak to pitch 50 innings with a 7.64 ERA, didn't this FO bring in Colome and Roblies? Isn't it this FO that left with twins with Cave as the back up center fielder if and when Buxton was going to get hurt? Yes the Twins suffered injuries, but isn't it the front office job to have a plan in place for injuries? As for the injuries to basically all of the pitching prospects, I don't know but was that unique to the Twins or did it happen all over baseball? (IMO, but no data to back this up, I think it might have to do with the pitching philosophy of going all out every pitch for 3-5 innings, after missing 2020 season that might have had a negative effect on these young arms, most of which hadn't pitched a ton of innings prior to 2020, compared to what somebody like Berrios had pitched in the minors. 30.2, 103.2, 140, 166.1 (some where on the same path as him, but 2020 messed that up)

Rosenthal said he's still with Fox and The Athletic. I'd expect a journalist with his reputation around the game would have no problem continuing to find work. The question with Fox is whether or not they want to piss off MLB (if the reasoning for this really is Manfred/MLB being mad at Rosenthal) by continuing to employee Rosenthal and have him involved in the biggest moments/events of the MLB season. I'd like to think this was just MLB changing things up, and not them getting rid of someone "speaking truth to power," but it's weird to me cuz Rosenthal is one of the best in the biz. Love his work.

I find the premise that a mid-rotation vet arm is inherently better than a rookie would be. Yes, they have track records, but that never means success going forward, just longer track to look at. You never know what the vet pitcher will actually do, sometimes they do better than expected, or they do much worse. The assumption that they will do as projected and a rookie will be worse because they have less to work off of to me is a poor way to build a team. At some point the rookies need to play. Maybe all the people that expect the rotation to fail will be right, but maybe they will be wrong. We are all just speculators based on limited information as outsiders to the organization. The team still may make a trade or sign one of the few left. I hope all the posters remember how much money the they wanted the Twins to put into some of the pitchers this year and look in two years how they would feel having many of the guys that signed on the same contracts. I would bet they would look back and say hmm maybe it was good not to sign them.

I like the upside on Severino, but the rest don't have a lot of the excitement factor to me. It's good to have catcher depth and guys in the organization that you can go to, but I'm not sure any of these look like they have a breakout potential to me. I hope I'm wrong. Pitching side of the equation looking a little stronger and deeper at this point in the lists. That said...we're still pretty far down the prospect lists.

He won't be unemployed very long....

#FireManfred

Not only a poor decision, but also really bad look. Manfred doesn't do much for his own PR image.

I guess my question to all of this is would people be happy, and say the FO was successful, if they come out of the lockout and sign Pineda and Duffy? Those are two mid-tier pitchers still available. Is the complaint simply that they didn't do this before the lockout? If 2 mid-tier arms is all people are wanting I don't get why I've read hundreds of "fire Falvine!" or "the FO failed!" or similar posts over the last month. 2 mid-tier arms are easily found still. Is this just a "they didn't do it fast enough" complaint?

That's 97% of all draft picks and amateur signings. I don't think ST will shine any magical light on these guys, but like Ted said (hehe... sorry Ted), these 5 have the talent and moxy to make a big statement this season.

There is no way the risk approaches the reward with Buxton. This will be one of the best extensions the Twins ever ink.

I don't have information beyond what is in the NY Post article, but it sounded like Rosenthal already had a multi-year contract that went through 2021. Wouldn't it be just like baseball executives, though, to put up with a guy for 1+ year rather than can him and have to eat the rest of the contract? Heh, and maybe Rosenthal's will be the last multi-year contract a reporter receives from MLBN. "Sabrmetric studies show that a reporter's value declines sharply after the first year of any contract."

The offseason isn't over yet, so this seems a bit premature. Though, there is plenty of uncertainty about how the rest of the offseason will actually unfold. I find it hard to believe that they're done with pitching acquisitions. But if they are, that's easily the biggest mistake.

I definitely agree, you never know. However, I specifically think there is a sub-stack of mid-rotation, FA pitching (DeSclafani is a god example) where there's a more predictable level of stability to be had. The Twins never attack this because their recent strategy has been 'we'll tweak a guy who struggled recently (e.g. Bundy).

I have to say, one of the things I had liked about baseball was that the journalists were often able to be free. It isn't like the NFL where you don't get access if you're critical. Rosenthal, Heyman, Verducci, etc are fantastic, knowledgeable, league-wide journalists who have done excellent reporting over the years. I really hope that doesn't go away.

None of us know what the FO is thinking as they prepare for 2022. Have they had discussions with Team X and will pull the plug on an Odorizzi type trade after the lockout ends? Are they near an agreement with Pineda that will be signed at that time? Do they have reports that Maeda's recovery is ahead of schedule and he could/should be back by July 4th? Add Pineda and a solid Odorizzi level starter together with the young guns and you have the making of a decent rotation. Are they planning on piggy backing young arms for a couple spots in the rotation? Considering the innings most of the kids threw last year, that could make sense. So many posts, including this one, blame the Twins FO for doing little prior to the lockout. It seems many of you think they went out for dinner or drinking in early November and failed to get back to work prior to December. I doubt that was the case. The truth is that we don't know what their plan is, although likely have one. Not doing what most of us would like, isn't necessarily a failure.

Want to second and thank Dman for his comments. Especially, his thanking Buxton for the stance he took during these long negotiations. Will disagree with your comments a bit, Cody. I think the chances of a career altering or ending injury is no greater for Buxton than any other player. Yes, his history indicates he is more likely to get short-term injuries than most, but career ending seems to be the same as anyone else, at least in my eyes.

I too am high on Celestino. He wasn't ready for MLB, and everyone in the organization knew it, but injuries forced him up early. Despite having a rotten debut, he bounced back and played well when he reached AAA...which was where he probably should have been at that point in the season anyway. The defense needs some adjusting, but he has the tools to be a very solid CF and can play all 3 OF positions. I think he'll compete for the 4th OF spot in training camp this year (assuming there is a season) and could be a really nice fit.

Interesting analysis, Jamie. I agree 100% that the biggest mistake the FO has made this offseason is not dipping into the free agent pitching market. Maybe they will make a trade, but why not sign a good arm in free agency when it costs nothing in prospect capital? If they signed Wood, for example, they could then trade for a Montas type pitcher, sign Pineda and have a decent rotation which would only get better if one of the young guys is ready this spring.

"That possibility makes it more important for the Twins to invest in the 2022 team." Right on. Buxton is primed to party in 2022 and your Option 2 is still very doable and the most effective course of action for now and the next five years. First, the CBA needs some attention which requires a few humans to gather together in a room and talk with each other.

I think if Buxton plays 130 games he should outperform these expectations. This article gets me fired up for 2022, even if the twins aren’t amazing, it would be fun to have a superstar on the team for 130 games

Thanks Seth. Appreciate all the extra work on these lists (loving the separate pitcher/hitter lists). I like the idea of the subset of starters and relievers, as situational needs and differing priorities can often color where people would "rank" individual players. Seems like a lot of extra work, but if your willing to write it up, I am more than pleased to read it (and thank you for you work ).

A new Baseball Year Has Begin. Spring Training MAY be coming up in less than two months. But, as a lockout continues, 40-man rosters have been set for all teams. There are still free agents looking for work, and Rule 5 draftees to be added to rosters. I suggest we wait until camps break in April to see who is in the minor league systems for real, although there have been many minor league free agent signings of former Twins, some foreign departures, and the Twins will probably have many names still cut from their organization that will end up in what is now called Indy Ball leagues. ***PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ADD NAMES IN COMMENTS AS OFF-SEASON & SEASON PROGRESSES*** FORMER TWINS WITH OFF-SEASON MAJOR LEAGUE CONTRACTS RYAN PRESSLY (Astros). The Twins grabbed Ryan as a Rule 5 player in the 2012 draft from the Red Sox. He pitched from 2013-18 with the Twins, then was traded to the Astros for Jorge Alcala and Gilberto Celestino. LAMONTE WADE (Giants). Signed by Twins in 2015. Played for team in 2019-20. Traded to Giants in 2021 for Shaun Anderson. JAKE ODORIZZI (Astros). Began his career with the Royals in 2012. Traded by the Rays to the Twins for Jeremaine Palacios in 2018. Pitched for three years and became a free agent, signing with the Astros in 2021. AARON HICKS (Yankees). Drafted by Twins in 2008. Played centerfield from 2013-15. Traded to Yankees in 2015 off-season for John Ryan Murphy. JOSE BERRIOS (Blue Jays). Signed by Twins in 2012. Pitched for Team 2016-21. Traded to Blue Jays in summer 2021 for Austin Martin and Simeon Woods-Richardson. BRUSDAR GRATEROL (Dodgers). Minnesota Twins Prospect 2014-19 playing with Team in 2019. Traded to Dodgers in spring of 2020 with Luke Raley and future draft pick consideration (Dodgers chose Clayton Beeker with the slot pick) for Kenta Maeda and Jair Camargo. EDUARDO ESCOBAR (Mets). Signed by White Sox 2006. Traded to Twins in 2012 along with Pedro Hernandez for Francisco Liriano. Played for Team 2012-18. Traded to Diamondbacks in 2018 for Ernie de la Trinidad, Jhoan Duran and Gabriel Maciel. Traded by Diamondbacks to Brewers in 2021. Signed as free agent with Mets in off-season. JASON CASTRO (Astros). Was signed as a free agent and played with Twins from 2017-2019. He previously played six seasons for Houston. He signed with the Angels, played for the Padres, and came back the Astros last season. ROBBIE GROSSMAN (Tigers). Signed by Pittsburgh in 2008. Played for Astros in 2013-15. Signed and released by Indians and signed by Twins in 2016 playing for them until 2018. Signed as free agent by the A's in 2019 and the Tigers in 2021. JONATHAN SCHOOP (Tigers). Signed with the Orioles 2008. Played for the Brewers in 2018. Signed as a free agent by Twins in 2019 . Became a free agent signing with the Tigers in 2020. RICH HILL (Red Sox). Signed by the Cubs in 2004. Pitched for the Cubs, Orioles, Red Sox, Indians, Angels, Yankees, A's, Dodgers, Rays and Mets. Pitched in minors for Nationals and Cardinals rehabbing. Signed as a free agent with the Twins in 2020. In 2022 will mark his third stint with the Red Sox. LANCE LYNN (White Sox). Signd by Cardinals in 2008, pitching for them 2011-17. Signed as a free agent by the Twins for 2018. Traded during 2018 season to New York Yankees for Luis Rijo and Tyler Austin (and cash). Signed by Rangers for 2019 season and traded in 2021 season to White Sox. KYLE GIBSON (Phillies). Signed by Twins 2009 and played for Team 2013-2019. Granted free agency in 2020 and signed with Rangers. Traded to Phillies in 2021. ZACK LITTELL (Giants). Signed by Mariners 2013 then traded to Yankees organization. Traded to Twins along with Dietrich Enns for Jaime Garcia in 2017. Pitched for Team 2018-20. Signed as a free agent with the Giants for 2021. TREVOR MAY (Mets). Signed by the Phillies 2008. Traded to Twins in 2012 with Vance Worley for Ben Revere. Played for Team 2014-20. Signed in off-season 2020 as Free Agent with Mets. C.J. CRON (Rockies). Signed by Angels in 2011. Played for Angels and Rays. Waiver claim by Twins for 2019 season. Signed as free agent with Tigers for 2020 and Rockies 2021. J.T. CHARGOIS (Rays). Signed by Twins in 2012. Major Leagues in 2016. Waiver claim by Dodgers in 2018. Also pitched for Mariners. MATT WISLER (Rays). Signed by Padres in 2011. Pitched for Braves, Reds, Padres, Mariners organization. Waiver claim by Twins for 2020 season. Waived by Twins in off-season and claimed by Giants for 2021 who traded him to Rays. LIAM HENDRIKS (White Sox). Signed out of Australia by Twins in 2007. Pitched for Team in 2011-13. Waiver claim by Cubs in 2013, then also Jays and Orioles. Pitched for Royals, Jays and Oakland before signing as free-agent with White Sox for 2021. TYLER KINLEY (Rockies). Signed by Marlins in 2013. Claimed in Rule 5 draft by Twins in 2017 and returned to Marlins in 2018. Waiver claim by Rockies from Marlins in 2019. BRANDON WADDELL (Cardinals). Signed by Pirates in 2015. Waiver claim for 2021 season by Twins. Waiver claim by Orioles then also Cardinals in 2021. TRAVIS BLANKENHORN (Mets). Signed by Twins in 2015 and played on Team in 2020. Waiver claim by Dodgers in 2021, and also Mariners, and then Mets.'' FORMER MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS DEOLIS GUERRA (A's). Signed by the Mets in 2005. Traded to the Twins in 2008 along with Carlos Gomez, Philip Humber and Kevin Mulvey for Johan Santana. Never got call to majors. Signed as a free agent with Pirates in 2014. Played for Angels, Rangers, Brewers, Phillies and A's organizations. AKIL BADDOO (Tigers). Minnesota Twins Prospect 2016-2020. Claimed in 2020 Rule 5 draft by Tigers. TYLER WELLS (Orioles). Minnesota Twins Prospect 2016-2020. Claimed by Orioles in 2020 Rule 5 draft. NICK ANDERSON (Rays). Signed by Twins in 2015. Traded to Marlins in 2018 for Brian Schales. Traded by Marlins to Rays in 2019. LUIS GIL (Yankees). Minnesota Twins Prospect 2015-2017. Traded in spring of 2018 to Yankees for Jake Cave. SAM CLAY (Nationals). Minnesota Twins Prospect 2014-2020. Signed as a free agent with the Nationals in 2021. LEWIN DIAZ (Marlins). Minnesota Twins Prospect 2013-19. Traded in 2019 to Marlins for Chris Vallimont and Sergio Romo. LUKE RALEY (Dodgers). Signed by Dodgers in 2016. Traded to Twins along with Logan Forsythe and Devin Smeltzer for Brian Dozier in 2018. Traded by Twins in spring 2020 along with Brusdar Graterol and a draft pick (Clayton Beeker) for Jair Camargo and Kenta Maeda. JAYLIN DAVIS (Giants). Minnesota Twins Prospect 2015-2019. Traded to Giants in 2019 along with Prelander Berroa and Kai-Wei Teng for Sam Dyson. JAKE REED (Mets). Minnesota Twins Prospect 2014-20. Waiver claim Dodgers in 2021. Also waiver claim by Rays and Mets. BROOKS RALEY (Rays). Signed by the Cubs in 2009, he reached the majors, then was claimed by the Twins in 2014. The Angels claimed him when the Twins put him thru waivers. Spent time in Korea. Played in the majors with the Reds and Astros before signing with the Rays in the 2021 off-season. HUASCAR YNOA (Braves). Twins prospect 2015-17. Part of the deal that brought Jaime Garcia to the Twins for a week in 2017. JHOULYS CHACIN (Rockies). Signed by Rockies in 2004. Played in majors or minors for Rockies, Diamondbacks, Indians, Angels, Padres, Brewers, Red Sox. Signed as free agent with Twins in 2020. Almost considered for play, but cut when the shortened alternative site minors rosters were picked. Then signed with Braves, Yankees and back to the Rockies.

Hey, it’s the Christmas season and there’s no real baseball on TV. Nor is there any real baseball news, and I don’t want to discuss one more time whether the Twins are in rebuild or retool mode. But it’s a wonderful life, and there are movies to watch. On a recent road trip with my son, we tried to come up with the starting lineup on the All-Time Baseball Movie team. These are the fictional guys. It would be too easy to insert Lou Gehrig from Pride of the Yankees and Babe Ruth from any number of films. Here’s what we’ve got. Add your comments and rebuttals below. Leading off and playing center field, we have to go with the speedster Willie Mays Hayes from Major League. The original version, not Major League II, III or whatever they’re up to by now. When you hit like Mays and run like Hayes, you gotta be in the lineup. Hayes is a tough call in center over Kelly Leake from Bad News Bears and Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez from The Sandlot, but you clearly gotta keep the latter on the roster as a pinch runner. Batting second and playing left field will be Shoeless Joe. I know that I said this is fictional and Joe Jackson was real, but the movie is clearly a fantasy, and we’re talking about perhaps the best-known character in the genre. With that line drive back through the box off Ray, he’s clearly adept at going with the pitch, a skill we’re looking for in our No. 2 hitter. Batting third, where we want one of our best hitters, we have to go with The Natural, Roy Hobbs. He plays rightfield and has the lineup’s best walk-up music. If you don’t believe that, just stay after any minor league game for the fireworks show and you’ll get a listen. It’s not intentional to have worked our way around the outfield with top three spots in the order, but it came out that way. We’re kinda going to continue that by finding a way to get Major Leaguer Pedro Cerrano’s bat in the lineup, which we’ll do in the cleanup spot as the DH. Movies don’t tend to have the DH in a starring role, but Jobu hits the fastball very much. Oh, and don’t steal his rum. Catcher is tough. Some of the genre’s best characters are behind the plate. I know I’m going to get flack for not choosing Crash Davis from Bull Durham, but the dude’s a career minor league. Stay tuned, I’ve got a spot for him. Similarly, Jake Taylor from Major League is a gamer, a masterful bunter and a great handler of a pitching staff. And then there’s Hamilton Porter from The Sandlot. I don’t think I can go with him, but we need him on the bench – there can’t be a better bench jockey and trash talker in the league. But all those pale compare to the one who truly was in a League of her (Their) Own, Dottie Hinson. She’ll woman the backstop and bat fifth. Following her in the lineup and batting sixth is her teammate. Playing second base, we have the window breaking slugger, Marla Hooch. First base is a hitter’s spot, but it’s actually a little weak in the movies. Granted, Clu Heywood leads the Major League in most offensive categories, including nose hair, but we only want the good guys on our team, so we can’t use him. Similarly, Mr. 3000 is just such a bad movie that I’m not going to use Stan Ross. That leaves us with another aging slugger, back from Japan, Mr. Baseball Jack Eliot, and he’ll bat seventh. Third base is another sparse one. The potentially obvious choice here is Roger Dorn, but he pretty much showed himself a clubhouse cancer throughout Major League, so we’ll have to pass. Instead, we’ll go with our third pick from League of Their Own, Doris Murphy. She can rub teammates the wrong way, as witnessed by her taking on Kit Hinson after a rough game, but she’s clearly a gamer, the kind of player who want as a spark batting near the bottom of the lineup at No. 8. Finally, we need a shortstop. Amazingly with such a glamour position, I couldn’t come up with a good standout shortstop from a baseball movie. I mean, with his way of coaching up teammates, it seems likely that “The Jet” Rodriguez could pull out his inner Cesar Tovar and play there, but I don’t think he actually does in the movie. But I’ve got an unnamed sleeper. Unnamed in that I couldn’t remember his name ever being used in the movie. But you need defense up the middle, and with that final play to come in and bare hand the tipped ball to preserve the perfecto at the end of “For Love of the Game,” this unnamed guy will play short and bat ninth. By contrast, though it may seem that the lineup is a bit weak at the bottom, we’ve got a loaded rotation. He is, by definition, a Rookie (of the Year), but with the bionic arm, Henry Rowengartner is in the mix. I like to work young guys in slowly, so I’m going to start him at No. 5 in the rotation. And speaking of youth, we’ll have another youngster in the No. 4 spot, Amanda Wurlitzer from the Bad News Bears. Despite her youth, she does have championship experience, leading the Bears to the title game. At No. 3, we’ll go with Bingo Long from his Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings. He’s based on Satchel Paige, so that’s impressive. Picking between the top two spots were tough, but I had to go with experience. I like Ebby Calvin “Nuke” LaLoosh’s million dollar arm in Bull Durham, but I don’t want someone with a five-cent head getting the start on opening day, so he’ll have to wait for game two. Which means that our opening day starter will be Billy Chapel from For Love of the Game. When you wrap up your Hall of Fame career with a perfect game and demonstrate that “the cathedral that is Yankee Stadium belongs to a Chapel,” you’ve shown you have the moxie to get the Opening Day start. There’s several noteworthy candidates to fill out the staff while pitching out of the bullpen, including Kit Hinson from League of the Their and Eddie Harris from Major League, but we know that it will be the Wild Thing, Ricky Vaughn from Major League, marching out of the bullpen to close games after a stellar career in the California Penal League. The team’s top pitching prospect is the newly signed Rigo (“Peanut Boy”) Sanchez from Trouble with the Curve. So there’s the roster. But before we get away, we have to recognize that it takes more than players to run a team. You need a coaching staff, for example, and baseball movies have given us a few. Because they formed the best manager/coach duo, our team will be led by Pop Fisher and Red Blow from The Natural. There are other noteworthy coach/managers who can fill out the coaching staff, namely Frank Perry (For Love of the Game), Jimmy Dugan (League of Their Own) and Lou Brown (Major League). I’m big on character, so it’s against my better judgment, but I did save a spot for Morris Buttermaker from the Bad News Bears. Also in the dugout will young Bobby Savoy (The Natural) as our batboy. Billy Heywood from Little Big League was a choice for the coaching staff, but I realized that he has to be the team owner, since several other of the team owners portrayed are dirtbags. Think of Rachel Phelps from Major League and The Judge from The Natural. Heywood’s more seasoned ownership partners include Gary Wheeler (For Love of the Game) and candy bar mogul Walter Harvey (League of Their Own). Also in the team’s administration is GM Ira Lowenstein (League of Their Own). He oversees a scouting staff that includes by Gus Lobel (Trouble with the Curve) and Ernie Capadino (A League of Their Own). The latter is known for his skill in negotiating contracts, as demonstrated in signing the Hinson sisters. For astutely observing how much better Pete Taylor has been playing since his parents came to visit, Pete Klein (Trouble with the Curve) will head the team’s analytics department. Heading the scouting staff, and likely working her way up to GM on her own, is Mickey Lobel from Trouble with the Curve. With such a varied range of experience on our team, there are bound to be injuries, and we’ve got the best possible medical staff in place. Heading the group is Doc Archibald (Moonlight) Graham from Field of Dreams. Assisting him, with specializations in providing CPR and overseeing the pool at the training facility is Wendy Peffercorn from The Sandlot. A team like this needs a place to play, and fortunately they have stadium architect extraordinaire Ray Kinsella (Field of Dreams). As noted above, I do have a backup plan for Crash Davis. He’ll assist Ray as groundskeeper, with particular expertise in managing the irrigation system. Also of note in game day management is Frank Drummond (Naked Gun), who will serve as stadium security. He’s also been known to fill in for Enrico Polazzo in singing the National Anthem. A team like this certainly deserves media coverage. Again, there’s lots to choose from in the broadcasting department, since using an announcer is often part of what helps the plot flow in sports movies. They’re playing themselves, so our rules keep us from naming John Gordon (Little Big League), Vin Scully (For Love of the Game) and Curt Gowdy, Jim Palmer, Tim McCarver, Mel Allen, Dick Enberg and Dick Vitale, all from Naked Gun. But even if that rule didn’t apply, the broadcasting gig would still have to go to Harry Doyle from Major League. And finally, we need someone to wax eloquent and write Roger Angell-like essays. The clear choice for that would be Terrance Mann. So, how’d I do? Who’d I miss?

You are brave to start the new year on this sad topic. After the 2019 playoff, I believe I started a topic with the suggestion that that playoff may have been the most humiliating series of losses in Twins history (after suggesting a few close seconds). I’m sticking with it.

Remember when we all hated Selig? Man, what I'd give to have him back compared to what we have in Manfred.

The Giants just won 107 games with a mostly FA rotation. Not of a deep playoff run of course, but a good example. I'm not suggesting such a black and white approach, merely that there's value in that market to add stability. Adding that type of value doesn't preclude the Twins from relying on the stable of very exciting high minors arm talent they have.

I agree for sure. I think the biggest question I have with not taking that approach, is the Giants aren't even paying market value for the pitchers they signed. If Wood is worth 2.0 fWAR in 2022, that's worth around $16 million, he's making 10-12. It's a bargain. Even if the Twins 'overpaid' it would still likely produce market value for them.

I agree with this comment. And that's more than fair since the "hitters" list no longer includes the likes of Kirilloff, Larnach, Jeffers, Rortvedt or Gordon. And Rortvedt would rank higher than these three catchers, at least by a little bit.

This is unfortunate. Rosenthal is a respected baseball guy. I'm not sure this bodes well for future Labor Harmony either.

I bit on your comment, chewed on it for a while, spit it out, not bad, not bad.

Well, it’s certainly clear who’s calling the shots … and I don’t think it’s Manfred in this case but who Manfred represents. In a lockout, ownership doesn’t want ANY criticism

I was hoping for something I didn't already know. Maybe I know too much.

One of my favorite TD annual series @Nick Nelson! Unlike others here, I'm quite high on Celestino. A solid RHB that can play a competent CF. A perfect 4th OF that will compliment our LHB heavy corners.

Like to keep track of guys from the team still in the game. Here's the one from last year! https://twinsdaily.com/forums/topic/49951-ex-twins-in-2021-where-are-they-now/

It might not mean anything to you, but for many of this we find the nostalgia and the movements within the game to be fascinating.

EX-TWINS On 2022 Major League Field Staffs MARCUS JENSEN (A's coach). Former Twins player 2000. DUSTIN HUGHES (A's coach). Former Twins player 2011. JOE ESPADA (Astros coach). 1998 Rule 5 Draftee, returned to original team. JASON KANZLER (Astros coach). Twins prospect 2013-15. JEREMY REED (Angels coach). Minor league free agent 2011. PAUL SORRENTO (A's coach). Former Twins player 1989-91. PHIL NEVIN (Angels coach). Forrmer Twins player 2006. BOBBY WILSON (Rangers coach) Former Twins player 2018. SETH CONNER (Rangers coach). Minor league coach 2021. DAVE McKAY (Diamonbacks coach). Former Twins player 1975-76. MIKE FETTERS (Diamondbacks coach). Former Twins player 2003. MIKE REDMOND (Rockies coach). Former Twins player 2005-09. JOSH BARD (Dodgers coach). Unsigned 1996 draftee. AARON BATES (Dodgers coach). Minor league player 2011-12. DANNY LEHMANN (Dodgers coach). Minor league prospect 2007-13. ANTOAN RICHARDSON (Giants coach). Minor league free agent 2013. J.P. MARTINEZ (Giants coach). Minor league prospect 2004-07. Twins minor league coach 2015-20 DEREK SHELTON (Pirates manager). Twins bench coach 2018-19. QUINTIN BERRY (Brewers coach). Minor league free agent 2017. JASON LANE (Brewers coach). Minor league free agent 2013, released in spring training. DAMON HOLLINS (Royals coach). Minor league free agent 2001. PEDRO GRIFOL (Royals coach). Minor league prospect 1991-95. ALLAN de san MIGUEL (Royals coach). Minor league prospect 2005-11. LEE TUNNELL (Reds coach). Former Twins player 1989. JEFF PICKLER (Reds coach). Twins coach 2017-18. HOWIE CLARK (White Sox coach). Former Twins player 2008. A.J. HINCH (Tigers manager). Unsigned 1995 draftee. MATT BORGSCHULTE (Orioles coach). Twins minor league coach 2019-21. RICKY BONES (Nationals coach). Minor league free agent 1998. HENRY BLANCO (Nationals coach). Former Twins player 2004. JEREMY HEFNER (Mets coach). Twins scout 2017-18, coach 2019. JAMES ROWSON (Marlins coach). Twins coach 2017-19. RON WASHINGTON (Braves coach). Former Twins player 1981-86. PETER FATSE (Red Sox coach). Minor league coach 2019. JASON VARITEK (Red Sox coach). Unsigned 1993 draftee. ALEX CORA (Red Sox manager). Unsigned 1993 draftee. ANDY FOX (Red Sox coach). Minor league free agent 1993, released in spring training.

Probably the best pure Stuff in the #MNTwins system. Probably no "probably" to it. And 24 isn't old, especially with a lost season... Take care of him and let him start. If he ends up in the bullpen in 2024, cool. But for now, definitely keep him starting.