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Popular Content

Showing content with the highest reputation on 09/28/2022 in all areas

  1. dogsday
    As a mid-market franchise the Twins can afford few mistakes in player acquisition and development. The Twins need to be top of class in those areas and so far under Falvey and Levine they aren’t. I think the front office rightly identified coaching and analytics as areas where a comparatively small amount of spending can have an exponential impact. But many of their initial coaches are gone (Rowson, Shelton, Swanson, Johnson…). Why? So how to parcel out responsibility for where the Twins are today? A development program that can’t keep front-line players and prospects healthy and on the field. Either the program is failing or the players aren’t following through or both. Players who don’t have solid fundamental baseball skills offensively or defensively. I don’t know what mix of coaching and/or player performance is responsible for that, but our pitchers lack command and control, our hitters leave too many runners on base, and our fielders and baserunners make too many fundamental errors. We need to acquire players who are coachable and have development programs to keep those players on the field and performing at optimal levels. Too many misses in player development. There was a time when a core of Buxton, Sano, Kepler, Polanco, Garver, etc. looked like something that could result in sustained success but it obviously didn’t. Is that luck or something else? A system that doesn’t seem to match effective changes to areas that need to improve. Baseball is a game of adjustments. Pitchers need to develop new pitches and approaches. Hitters need to adjust stances and swings. Organizations need to honestly evaluate themselves and make the necessary adjustments. The Twins simply aren’t close enough to best in class doing that.
    9 points
  2. mikelink45
    Injuries are a very big factor, but perhaps the unwinding of our Kepler/Buxton/Polanco/Sano core should be up near the top. These were the players to carry us forward. Buxton cannot stay on the field, Polanco seems to be breaking down, Sano looks like he is a former Twin, and Kepler has been mediocre. Now we need the new core and they are mostly on the IL except for Ryan/Miranda When you list Rocco you have to list his supporting cast too. What was Tingler doing when he was the voice that was intended to be in Rocco's ear?
    8 points
  3. MisstheBomba
    Well when the Front Office thinks getting a new scoreboard and uniforms is a topic right now, I think they are the issue. Twins should hire Kent Hrbek as conditioning coach. Maybe the players need a beer, Brat and cigar as opposed to a warm butt donut and sympathy?
    7 points
  4. LastOnePicked
    It's all on the FO. After Falvey's statement about Baldelli's job being safe and that he and the FO are "partners," it's clear that even the managing philosophy or decisions I may disagree with are dictated by the FO. So, foolishly keeping Pagan in high-leverage situations?: the FO. Playing Lewis in CF, despite his unfamiliarity with Target Field and the risk to his ACL?: the FO. Signing ineffective veteran pitchers?: the FO. Trading for injury-prone arms?: the FO. Hiring this current training and medical staff?: the FO. Not even being remotely aware that your pitching coach was interested in a career change?: the FO. Despite the undercurrent of anger in a lot of my posts, I don't hate Falvey and/or Levine. I love that they signed Buxton and Correa. I appreciate that they stretch payroll. I value that they were about as aggressive as they could be at this year's trade deadline. I do, however, think that they still believe they are the smartest guys in the room. The people I've known in life who see themselves this way a) typically are not the smartest people in any room and b) likely to make a mess of things due to blind spots, hubris or both. I've accepted the fact that they are here to stay for 2023 and possibly beyond. But if I were Jim Pohlad, I'd demand a full accounting for this year's failures + a detailed plan to win the AL title in 2023. I'd also clarify that if either the accounting or the plan don't look absolutely promising, it's time for them both to clear their offices and polish their resumes. They've had more than enough time to right the ship, and it's leaking worse than when they started.
    7 points
  5. Karbo
    Looks like you have them ranked right to me. One other thing that seems to be lacking through the entire org. is the lack of teaching good old fashioned fundamentals!
    7 points
  6. Whitey333
    Excellent well written and thought out article. I like the order you put them in. Yes injuries were a big part and the FO is already declaring that is why we fell out of contention. A losers philosophy blaming the whole season on injuries. I think Baldelli should shoulder much of the blame. He sets the day to day tone. This team was ill prepared day in and day out to play. They play with no fire or passion. The FO created the pitching mess then tried to patch it up with guys with injury history.
    6 points
  7. Mark G
    As Harry Truman once said, "the buck stops here", meaning that eventually the responsibility for the actions (or lack of them) of the people he put in place rested with him, as he was the one who put them in place and was supposed to oversee their work. If it is ap ra po for the President to accept responsibility, it should also rest on the owner of a franchise who, also, puts people into place and is the overseer of their work. There are mistakes and missteps to go around, as Cody points out, but the buck has to stop with JP. And only JP can make the changes necessary to improve the team going forward, either by putting better people in place, or by demanding more, and demanding accountability out of the people already in place. What say you, JP? Where does the Twins buck stop? (and I don't mean Byron)
    6 points
  8. LastOnePicked
    "Yet emotions aside, there's an obligation to look at the reality." - And then the article goes on to cherry pick five aspects of the season that were either good (I agree) or overblown. That's not reality - that's blind optimism. 1) Jose Miranda had a solid rookie campaign ... at the plate. However, he's grounded into more double-plays than almost any hitter in baseball and in the field he's not yet what you could call an asset. Did we get a glimpse a fairly promising career? Absolutely. Is he a ROY candidate? Nope. 2) Gray is a solid starter, and I'm glad he's here. But he's a #3 starter on a good team, and that's when he's available. We'll have to see what Petty becomes before we call this trade a win. 3) Gordon is another great story and he's probably my favorite current Twin. But you need your #5 draft picks to produce, and Gordon seems more like a great utility player than a star in the making. 4) Ryan is maybe the most currently overhyped Twin. He's great against weak opponents, yes. He's also HR-prone, exactly like the scouting reports said. He, too, could be a huge asset to this team as a #4-#5 starter. Sadly, he's being asked to take the #2 slot here. 5) Everything you're saying here has been said about Miguel Sano and Brent Rooker. This team has put a lot of emphasis on slow-speed, two-outcome sluggers. I love that Wallner's getting a chance to play ball at this level, but this team also needs players with speed and defensive chops who can cover OF territory. But, I will never knock Caleb Thielbar. May he pitch like this until he's 60. Bless him. Sorry for the cold water on the rest, but as you so elegantly stated, there's an obligation to look at the reality, too. We'll have to see what next year brings to these potentially promising developments.
    5 points
  9. Otaknam
    The injuries did decimate the team but Rocco should not get a free pass. His slavish devotion to analytics and lack of trust in his starters was frustrating, especially with a bullpen that was poor. His Earl Weaver refusal to utilize the speed he had to occasionally steal a base or try a hit and run, especially when the offense was sluggish, a frequent occurrence, was a head scratcher. And of course the many base running blunders says to me the coaching staff didn’t do a good job. I wish they’d move on from him.
    5 points
  10. roger
    Great seeing Balazovic with a solid start, very solid. Also continue shaking my head at what Shuffield is doing. Is he for real? And what a great night in Wichita from the middle infielders. Martin was 1-3 with 3 walks, Julien 2-5 with a walk and Lee was 3-4 with a walk. Toss Lewis into that group and the Twins have four very interesting middle infielders. Hopefully, more than two force them to look for other spots to get them into future Twins' lineups.
    5 points
  11. RJA
    I was really impressed with Headrick last night--that is the best he has pitched all year, and that means something as he has had a nice year. I especially like the fact he showed up big time in an elimination game with a lot of pressure on him. I think that says a lot about his character and his competitiveness. He will be fun to watch next year. I don't know what more Julien can do to show he is a prospect--300 average, 441 OBP, 931 OPS, 98 walks, etc. I hope he lights up the AFL this fall and shows that he can play second base and/or third base. He struggles against lefties, but absolutely kills right handed pitching so he might be a great platoon piece at second and/or third. Finally, Lee looks like the real deal and I wouldn't be surprised if he shows up at Target Field later next year.
    5 points
  12. Major League Ready
    It’s interesting to contrast this with the other teams in the division. Chicago put together a great team. Is it the fault of the FO that they performed so poorly? Cleveland signed nobody even though they were at $70M in salary and they did nothing at the deadline. How did Cleveland build their roster? How were the players acquired that produced significant WAR for them. Their approach is basically the opposite of what many here expect from the Twins. Their team was built by trading away established players for prospects and extending a player they drafted (Ramirez) I would NOT say the pitching pipeline has not arrived but it has not been as impactful as we would have hoped. How many pitchers should we expect? They have added Ober / Ryan / Winder / Jax and Duran. It looks like Varland is close and SWR is not far off either. There are a few others like Moran / Megill / Sands / Sisk that need a little refinement as well and a couple others like Canterino that need to get healthy.
    5 points
  13. Mike Sixel
    Given Buxton's healthy (and Larnarch and AK), I'd move him to CF right now. He can backup all the OF spots. They don't need more middle infielders at this point (and if they do because CC is gone and Lewis and Gordon and Arraez and Polanco are hurt, the season isn't going to go well anyway).
    5 points
  14. Beast
    If we consider “success,” a rookie and utility guy OPSing .750…..we’re in trouble. If this season wasn’t a failure, failures don’t exist. It was a clinic in poor roster management, poor decision making, poor execution, poor leadership, poor coaching, poor performance, etc. that led to one of the biggest collapses in the history of baseball. We’re supposed to feel encouraged about this team’s playoff prospects going forward because a previous #5 overall pick progressed from unplayable to league average? I just can’t get on board with labeling anyone who disagrees with this ridiculous premise “ignorant.”
    4 points
  15. Mark G
    I agree with everything here...........except.........the buck stops with Jim Pohlad. These are his people, hand picked by him and supported by him. He oversees everything in this organization, and has the final say in who runs it. The FO, as we know it, is still run by JP. Every one works for him. He is the only one who can change things. And this extremely humble observer doesn't think he will.
    4 points
  16. LA VIkes Fan
    Well put. This was supposed to be the year where the core of Buxton, Polanco, Kepler and Sano complimented by Correa and maybe Arraez would form a fearsome lineup. The pitching staff would be young and improving, and we could be competitive in 2022 with 2023 the true break through deep playoff run competitive year. Instead, Sano played his way out baseball, Kepler played his way to the bench or out of town, and both Polanco and Buxton were injured a whole lot. The only young pitchers that stepped forward were Ryan becoming a solid mid rotation starter with some higher potential and Duran becoming a lock down bullpen guy. Ober looked good last night so maybe he's ready to break out. Miranda and Gordon look like solid MLB players, and possible stars (?), and nothing else happened in the lineup. So where are we? Very hard to tell. There's enough talent with potential to imagine a solid lineup for next year but we again will be dependent on Buxton's health, Polanco and Arraez staying on the field, and break throughs from younger guys. The rotation has 3 vets with injury issues, Ryan, and …. maybe Ober or Winder or Varland? God help us if the 3 vets have more injury issues and Ryan gets hurt. Then we're screwed. The bullpen has to be rebuilt . . . again. The coaching? Wasn't great this year. All frustrating. :Looks like 2023 is another crapshoot year for the Twins. We could win 90-95 games, we could win 70-75 games next year.
    4 points
  17. ashbury
    As a fan, I can state with some assurance that I'm not to blame.
    4 points
  18. LastOnePicked
    BOSS: We put a plan in place, we had strong sales, our profits were surging and then all of a sudden we tanked. We dropped to like third in the region. What happened? EMPLOYEE: I don't know. I think people were injured all over the place or something. BOSS: Injured? Why? Our factory isn't any more risky than any other. And the replacements we hired look sluggish. What's going on? EMPLOYEE: C'mon, we lost. The fiscal year is over. Let's just move on. BOSS: WHAT?! EMPLOYEE: Maybe your expectations for the company were just too high. Ever think of that? You all get what I'm saying here? The fanbase's constant push to put on a happy face and sweep failure under the rug just kinda astounds me. Of course, feel however you like about this season, but I don't think we're capable of sending a clear message to ownership about what's acceptable and what's not anymore. Perhaps ticket sales and broadcast ratings will have to do that work for those of us whose expectations for one playoff victory or one title push in 30+ years are "too high."
    4 points
  19. Trov
    One thing people need to remember, is he was a high prospect for a reason. That does not mean he will have success, but many gave up on Nick Gordon in the organization. Many fans wanted him cut or traded coming into the year. They were calling him a bust. He is now 26 and his numbers are very similar a Jose Miranda, who people are all over saying he is amazing, he is 24. Aside from a few more HR for Miranda the numbers are nearly the same. That being said, Martin had a down year, Gordon would have several down years. We talked for years Gordon needed to add to power, and kept repeating levels. Now, Gordon had reasons he never built up the muscle to add to the power, until now, but point is, still a little early for some to give up on Martin. Will he be a superstar, maybe maybe not, but he is 24, and next season will be a big season for him to see where he falls in the pecking order, but since he came back from his wrist injury he is back to what he was doing last year. Hopefully he can an minimum develop some power, but look at Arraez, he was an OBP guy, with little power, but he develop some this year as well. Hopefully AFL, and normal spring training will help Martin develop and can push his way into the lineup. He will have his work cut out, being Lewis should be back, Gordon has shown value, Miranda has shown value, and Lee may have leapfrogged him. However, if he can play CF on defense and can get on base at high clip he will have value when Buck gets hurt next year.
    4 points
  20. Trov
    Lee, Martin, Julien, and Lewis will all be fighting for at-bats at MLB level in next year or two. Similar to when we thought we had a vast amount of corner OF, DH, 1b guys a couple years ago. One reason we were able to trade Steer, who would have been right in that same mix with the 4 mentioned above. Similar to our glut of corner OF guys it will shake out, but hopefully not because of injuries. You can throw Gordon into the mix too after this season he had. I have high hopes for Lee and Lewis as stars, with Martin as a good on-base guy that can steal. Julien may be able to hit, but his limited defense may be his shortfall if he does not overhit.
    4 points
  21. Cody Christie
    More information about "Passing the Blame Around for the 2022 Twins"
    The Twins are finishing a terrible September that saw the team go from contender to pretender in a few weeks. There are plenty of reasons for fans to be frustrated, but the season's conclusion offers time to reflect on the 2022 campaign. Here are the people most responsible for the Twins' downfall this season. Culprit 1: The Front Office The front office will take the brunt of the blame for any team that falls short of its ultimate goal. Last off-season was unique because of the lockout, and Minnesota took a unique approach to construct the roster. Derek Falvey and Thad Levine thought the pitching pipeline was ready to contribute in 2022, so the team didn't need to acquire any of the best free agent pitchers. This plan failed as the team's farm system took a step back, and the pitching pipeline has yet to arrive. It's also easy to blame the front office for some of the prominent players the team acquired during the 2022 season. Minnesota traded Taylor Rogers shortly before Opening Day for Chris Paddack and Emilio Pagan. The timing of the trade was terrible, even if Rogers ended up having a poor season. Paddack was terrific for four games before needing Tommy John surgery. Pagan has been one of baseball's worst relievers for multiple seasons, and the team continued to use him in high-leverage situations. Minnesota's front office received praise following July's trade deadline because it seemed like the team was "going for it." Neither of the other AL Central teams made significant moves, and the Twins acquired Tyler Mahle, Jorge Lopez, and Michael Fulmer. Mahle has struggled with a shoulder injury since being acquired, and Lopez hasn't lived up to his All-Star performance from the first half. Mahle's acquisition might be the most frustrating as he added his name to a growing list of injured pitchers the Twins acquired via trade. In the end, the front office was wrong about the organization's young pitchers being ready to contribute. Falvey and Levine didn't address the bullpen in the offseason, which haunted the team. It cost the team multiple prospects at the trade deadline after the club had already been treading water for most of June and July. Now, the front office is facing a critical offseason as this current group's winning window is closing. Culprit 2: Rocco Baldelli Minnesota's front office gave Baldelli a vote of confidence over the weekend when they said he is part of the team's long-term plans. Fans may still blame the manager for the team's poor performance for multiple months. Obviously, he has been dealing with one of baseball's most injured rosters, but the team doesn't seem to have much fight left in them. Last season, the team was out of the race for much of the season, but the club played well in September as younger players got an opportunity. This year's team played its worst baseball in September. Sometimes it's easy to forget that preseason models projected this team to finish around .500. Pitching staff usage is one of the most significant areas where fans blame a manager. Many will point fingers at Baldelli for his bullpen usage or for pulling his starters too early. However, it is also essential to consider that the team lost its pitching coach in the middle of the season. Minnesota's bullpen was terrible, and there is only so much Baldelli can do with the players on the roster. Also, Twins starters were rarely allowed to face a line-up for the third time, a philosophy many organizations have adopted in recent years. Baldelli deserves some blame, but even baseball's best manager wouldn't have won with Minnesota this season. Culprit 3: Injuries It's easy for anyone looking at the Twins' 2022 season to blame injuries for the team's poor performance. No American League team has put more players on the IL than the Twins this season. At one point, Minnesota had nearly a full roster of players on the IL, and it was a team that could be reasonably competitive in the AL Central. The Reds are the only club with more days lost to injury than the Twins, but anyone following the team knows that number doesn't tell the whole story. Minnesota allowed many players to stay off the IL even when injuries hampered their performance. Bryon Buxton talked his way out of multiple IL stints, and there were stretches where he struggled on the field. Jorge Polanco tried to play through an injury, Tyler Mahle made two starts at less than 100%, and Max Kepler played through a broken toe. Few organizations have the depth to withstand the number of injuries the Twins suffered in 2022. Reflecting on a season that started with renewed expectations can be challenging. However, there is plenty of blame to go around as the season winds to a close. Who deserves the most blame for the Twins' failures in 2022? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.
    4 points
  22. mikelink45
    Cole Sands seems to be in the Twins BP plans, but he has not looked the part of being a valuable arm going forward. Brooks Lee has definitely shown his value and could be flying through the organization.
    4 points
  23. weitz41
    Great season by the Wind Surge. Just came up a couple wins short. Good to see Balazovic have a decent outing to close out his season. Shuffield has played well (.855 OPS) for a fill in. Not everything went well in the bigs but plenty of players to be excited about on the farm. Headricks, SWR, Julien, Lee, Varland, Laweryson, Sisk and even Martin. (after returning from IL) Those are just the ones I can think of in AA and AAA. Plus some of the guys we traded at mid season. We may not have a top 5 farm system but seems to me there's plenty of players on the cusp of contributing to the Twins when called on.
    4 points
  24. D.C Twins
    It was a great outing in a meaningless exhibition game where both sides were just playing it out. Obviously, we need to see this sustained during real in-year competition to get the hype train rolling again... BUT it is still a lot better to seem him do this than to get knocked around!
    4 points
  25. Squirrel
    Every single Sox player had a strike out. Every single one.
    4 points
  26. stringer bell
    I think Martin’s skill set gives him a path to the major leagues. He has good speed, positional flexibility and on-base skills. With all the left handed outfielders the Twins have, there’s a pretty big void in right handed corners who could fill center field. I don’t know if he’ll be considered as a shortstop, but that he can help in the infield is a bonus. He’ll play next season at 24 years old and the Twins can hope for huge steps forward starting with his time in the AFL.
    4 points
  27. IndianaTwin
    For El Jucho, see No. 4: https://sfbayca.com/2018/08/16/hits-and-misses-for-giants-players-weekend-nicknames/ “A Dominican slang that appears to have no direct translation in English. It describes a person who is aware of everyone and everything around them at all times and pays close attention to details.” Mainly, I think it means, “six runs in 5.2 innings.”
    3 points
  28. old nurse
    Haven’t you been on this board as long as I have? No, you can never be happy. Never ever. Find the negative. Players playing well should make people happy. People forget that baseball on offense is a game of failure more than success
    3 points
  29. old nurse
    287 players in MLB have made 300 PA. That’s as close to 9 per team as I could get. Gordon’s ops of 760 places home at 97.th best. His WAR is 1.9, 117 best If that is failure then most of baseball is a failure. The alternative would be to think Baldelli is a genius for getting that kind of production out of such a failure
    3 points
  30. Battle ur tail off
    Agree on all 3. I would also add, we may have one of the most dangerous relief pitchers in the game in Duran. Jax emerging as a guy we can count on in the bullpen could also be considered a positive. To point #2 though, counting on Maeda or Paddack is a mistake IMO. Basically, the Twins should act as if those 2 don't even exist and if they give you anything the rest of their careers it is a bonus.
    3 points
  31. Mike Sixel
    Hey look, we aren't supposed to be happy in a celebration thread! If we can't be happy that Gordon went from "bust" to slightly above average, I don't know what should make us happy.
    3 points
  32. 4twinsJA
    I don't think the article's point is that there were not any negatives this season. Just that there were a few positives.
    3 points
  33. Battle ur tail off
    My main stickers. - Going into the season with 2 terrible starters on your staff, and only 1 guy that was proven(Gray) - Going into the season with a terrible bullpen(after trading away your closer) when you have an unproven and band-aided up starting staff.(just not good overall) - Having a manager that is so insistent on yanking guys early and leaning hard into a terrible bullpen(this will be my #1) They are so rigid with pitching usage, that they forget there is a game going on with humans right in front of their eyes - Not knowing how the run the bases or make basic defensive plays. - Us fans for believing that just signing Carlos Correa would lead us to the playoffs. Had we looked at it fairly, we would see that the gaggle of #4-6 starters, washups and bullpen projects on this team were many. Probably was unrealistic that we had any chance.
    3 points
  34. MGM4706
    This article falls in to the typical trap of accepting the Twins excuses of injuries!! The facts are the Twins shop the rehab market for pitching every year. They avoid the Quality Healthy Pitchers because of the price tag and go for Tommy John Patients on the rehab. So they do not get a break for pitching injuries because they signed damaged goods in many cases to begin with!!
    3 points
  35. chaderic20
    Bring back the cream-colored pinstripe home jerseys! Those were my favorite.
    3 points
  36. Squirrel
    Oh, I think you are, to some extent. I mean, the lack of fan support certainly could play a part.
    3 points
  37. Squirrel

    Hurricane Ian

    operation mindcrime and 2 others reacted to Squirrel for a topic

    It looks like their complex is in Zone C ... parts of zone C are under evacuation orders (along with zones A and B), but I don't know, specifically, about them. The surge is now predicted to be 16 ft, from Sanibel to Englewood. The dorm at the complex is new and of concrete construction. If they aren't in a mandatory zone, they will weather the hurricane there and I'm sure that structure is sound, given its relative newness. I'm sure they aren't at all concerned about the Fall League at this point, but just making sure their players who are in Fort Myers are taken care of. They will assess after what will be. Right now (unless there is a newer update), Ian is just below a category 5, and the radius is huge, so, even if not a direct hit, Fort Myers will get hit hard. Last I read the Punta Gorda/Charlotte area will likely see the direct hit. Surges in Charlotte Bay might see 18 ft or more. The danger isn't the storm itself but the predicted surges and the massive amounts of rain expected. Maybe someone with more direct knowledge will have more to say. And may all our Floridian posters here at TD take care. You are in our thoughts.
    3 points
  38. Fire Dan Gladden
    It always amazes me how dramatic the roller coaster of fandom truly is. This team was probably overachieving a bit during the first half of the season (along with the White Sox and Cleveland underachieving) and it was "World Series Here We Come". Injuries, some regression to the mean, and a Cleveland team playing out of their gourd finally caught up with them. Now the masses are screaming "Fire the FO!", "Fire Rocco!", "Gut the team and start over!"... 1) Expectations for this team were to be .500. Here we are. I believe that the team planned to be post-season competitive next year and this year was somewhat of a bonus. The Mahle and Paddock moves were calculated risks this year with more of a payoff next year. Maeda out till next year. Correa basically on a one-year deal to hold for Lewis. Pitchers coming up to learn the ropes, This all points to 2023 2) Blame whoever you want, but bud luck goes a long way towards injuries and prevention. The only way to stop shoulder injuries in pitchers is to have them stop pitching. HBP, foul tips, concussions are all not preventable. 3) The organization as a whole is stronger now than it was before the current FO regime took over. Statistical analysis, drafting power pitchers, rebuilding the farm system (the only reason our system is ranked low is because we have graduated many guys out). They brought that to Minnesota. Flexibility and adapting were unheard of prior to them. 4) There will always be something to complain about: Our fielding is horrible. We don't let our SP go long enough (despite statistics backing most of the decisions, I am looking at you Sonny), we didn't use our relievers correctly or why is <insert player here> batting 3rd or 5th? Every team has holes in their product. The key is to find ways to deal with those holes. Those teams that can do that win. This team will be competitive next year. The rotation should be stronger. They will try to fill in the lineup holes where they can. Buxton, Kirriloff, Lewis, Polanco, Stashak, should all be back healthy (at least to start). We will be having the discussion of over/under 90 wins before you know it.
    3 points
  39. LastOnePicked
    Counterpoint: Accountability matters. If the "stuff that happens" is somehow only ever keeping your organization from success, the fault is probably less in the stars and more in the decisions being made by those at the top. I value grace and forgiveness. I don't hate anybody involved with this team. But I hate weak excuses, and I hate a culture of losing.
    3 points
  40. David Maro
    With Ober going 7+ innings was Rocco in the dugout? I guess the idea of Ober to the pen next year has changed.
    3 points
  41. MABB1959
    Starts at the top and obviously worked it's way down. The players were never held accountable either. The whole organization is a mess that we know from experience the Pohlad's really don't care. Most FO/Owners would have let Baldelli go after they got lost the series to Cleveland and then got swept by KC. We will be having this discussion at the end of every season for years to come. I am mostly discouraged by the promise of the Twins window of opportunity 3-4 years ago was supposed to be the start of that. By letting Berrios go (yes I know he had a tough year) showing they are not willing to keep the MLB caliber players by replacing them with players hoping to have one last shot. No different with Falvey and Levine as it was with other FO's. It will only get worse because ticket sales are plummeting and we will very soon be considered a small market team. I was able to watch the NYY/Blue Jays game last night and it was refreshing to see real MLB talented players again! I am going to go with Toronto as my team to go far in the play-offs! Have we heard a peep out of the Pohlad's?
    3 points
  42. jimbo92107
    Roy Smalley said it - Bailey Ober's performance was important because it gives the young pitcher a huge boost of confidence going into off season workouts. He knows now that his stuff is good enough to get multiple whiffs and swinging K's. Now he can shore up his strengths and work on eliminating his weak points. It would be nice to see a bit more velo on the heater, so he can use that as a K weapon, not just as a decoy. Otherwise, if his command remains good and his health is good, Ober looks like a very successful mlb pitcher.
    3 points
  43. ashbury
    Kinda nice to come to the box score late in the game and find this kind of pitching gem in progress. Get the RISP numbers a little higher on offense and this could have been a laugher.
    3 points
  44. tony&rodney
    Ober looks so intimidating but he is a pitcher, keeping batters off stride and commanding his pitches.Injuries have held him back but he sure looks like he could throw 120 pitches with such an easy delivery. Impressive outing.
    3 points
  45. DocBauer
    At 6' 185lbs, (as he's listed), he may never develop as a 20HR power hitter. But I wouldn't be surprised if HR power develops over time. But with a bunch of doubles, a few triples I'd be fine if he was in the teens. But agree that more power HAS to come unless the BA and OB are well above average or ML pitchers will just dare him to hit. The hit tool and OB ability appear to be there, even though we haven't seen the big average yet. So I'm still holding out belief he's going to raise his game another level soon, and the AFL could be a big springboard for 2023. I just don't know about him sticking at SS. I've always believed if there's a chance for someone to play the spot, even on an average basis, you leave him there as long as possible to see. And reports I've seen have him looking better post wrist injury and fewer errors. But with Lewis and Lee and a large group of new SS additions in the past couple of drafts, it just feels to me the time is right for him to move to the OF. Of course, nothing wrong with him being able to be an infield fill-in when needed. I've heard the FO feels he could transition to the OF almost immediately and be very good there. Maybe it's just time to get the most out of him and could "relax" him in regard to his hitting by making the move. Year three is going to be big for him.
    3 points
  46. Doctor Gast
    Royce Lewis also went to the AFL with a lot people down on him. Even after he showed that he could also excel at CF & 3B & be the AFL MVP, people were still down on him. I'm expecting Martin to follow the same road as Lewis & Wallner. Martin's upward trend will continue at AFL. I doubt Martin will start at SS so I expect to see him play CF, 3B or even 2B & do very well there.
    3 points
  47. ashbury
    Unless one of the guys below them goes completely nuts in the few remaining games, it's down to these two. If Arraez could have just found a way to hit about 55 more homers, he'd be running away with the batting crown. So unfair.
    2 points
  48. LastOnePicked
    Will the new logo be holographic? I was promised by virtually every movie as a child that the 2000s would features holograms everywhere. Holograms on the uniforms. Make it happen.
    2 points
  49. Unwinder
    One thing I really like about baseball in general, and the Twins in particular, is that old design elements are never really lost. Take the "m" emblem, for instance. The Twins phased it out of their everyday look, but it's still all over on merchandise, all over the graphics the Twins use on the scoreboard and on social media, and the Twins wore it on their hats for spring training this year. Or take a look at the original loopy "Twins" script with the big underline. This was updated in 1987, but since then, it's reasserted itself on retro uniforms, and appears almost as often as the "current" wordmark. I welcome a new take on the brand, because I know that the interlocking TC emblem, the hand-shaking Minnie and Paul, the underlined wordmark superimposed over a baseball, and all the other current brand elements that I like are always going to be in use on some level, and there will always be plenty of retro merchandise and throwback uniforms to showcase them. Nothing's really going away. so why not add something new to the mix?
    2 points
  50. ashbury
    I see this as the heart of the problem. Lewis probably doesn't belong in the same list because he started the year in the minors and earned his way up. And to a great extent I offer patience when a FO has to "play the hand they are dealt", because Buxton/Sano/Kirilloff were all brought in by the prior regime, and I can imagine that any trade talks weren't going to bring equal value in return (of course with perfect hindsight we might have taken a decent offer for any of them). But where I fault the FO is 1) talent evaluation and 2) lack of a perceived Plan B when injuries occur. Buxton, for instance, requires a highly competent backup, someone so good in fact that he deserves "starter's minutes" in LF or RF. Kepler used to be that guy, but evidently he isn't given that role now, because the first player to start a game in CF in 2022 when Byron got a day off was... Gilberto Celestino. I think highly of him as a prospect, but he's still only 23 and the FO looks as though they went all-in on him, and/or went all-in on Buxton never playing hurt. Looks like a serious mis-evaluation of his readiness for the Show. The same philosophy seems to permeate the roster, with an apparent belief that loading up on pitchers who will need to be given light loads would pay off. It didn't. Trading away one veteran catcher in Garver was reasonable, but trading away the young backup was reckless, and when the one who remained got injured we were suddenly very thin. Et cetera et cetera. We were treated to playoff teams in 2019 and 2020, and told that the down year in 2021 was just a fluke. Now we're getting mixed messages on just how close we are to needing a full rebuild. Two bad luck seasons in a row? I'd like an actual rebuild to be managed by a different FO - I'm not seeing any special sauce at the end of their sixth year.
    2 points
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