Trade Deadline: What if the Twins Do Nothing?

My reaction, to at least some extend, would depend on what I see the other contenders do. If multiple teams in the Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, Astros, Cubs categories can't make a 'big' deal for pitching...to me, that would be an indicator that this year was unique. I still think that's unlikely...but with 4 hours to go, and counting...it's looking at least possible.

I would love to know where I said that.  I have offered only rationales for why the FO has not completed any deals bigger than Romo, while stating that lack of results is not the same as lack of activity.

 

If you read some of the posts on here stating the level of irritation posters would have if no trade is completed, it's quite clear that a number of people think they're not really trying.

I would say dumping a story to the media about the Mets wanting Buxton isn't *really* trying as hard as they can try, wouldn't you? I mean, yeah, they "tried" but they gave up pretty early on.

I can't say I have ever heard a team dumping a story like that to the media, usually nobody knows what the negotiations are. Usually teams never disclose this stuff. It can't be good for any other prospective trading partners when the Twins publicly air their dirty laundry.

"Trying" -> sure. Competently trying -> probably not.

So if you go out to mow your yard, but the mower won't start because of a faulty spark plug, and once you've replaced the spark plug, its started to rain, and once it stops raining you have to go pick up your kid at school, and once you've picked up your kid you get rear-ended on the drive back home, and once you've finished dealing with the police and insurance the sun has gone down, leaving the yard unmowed, it's because you didn't try?

Executives should not be dealing with all those little distractions.

And yes, many executives would be out there yelling and demanding that the lawn gets mowed, regardless of all those little things, even the rain.

Executives should not be dealing with all those little distractions.

 

And yes, many executives would be out there yelling and demanding that the lawn get mowed, regardless of all those little things.

Completely unrelated from the thread, but I have mowed my lawn after dark with a headlamp before. I have also walked across the street to get my neighbor's mower and mowed my lawn with his mower (we're long time friends). Sometimes you need to get things done, so you do. 

I would say dumping a story to the media about the Mets wanting Buxton isn't *really* trying as hard as they can try, wouldn't you? I mean, yeah, they "tried" but they gave up pretty early on.

 

I can't say I have ever heard a team dumping a story like that to the media, usually nobody knows what the negotiations are. Usually teams never disclose this stuff. It can't be good for any other prospective trading partners when the Twins publicly air their dirty laundry.

"Trying" -> sure. Competently trying -> probably not.

Again, a lot of assumptions here (unless you have proof I haven't seen).  It's entirely possible this wasn't dumped, but leaked.  I can't fault Falvine if an unidentified staffer has a beer too many and blurts out something to a reporter they shouldn't.  I also can't discount that it could've been someone from the Mets putting that report out--maybe they would have been happy to get Buxton, but they were actually trying to drive up the price with another organization.

There is just so little information out there, not to mention the meaning behind it, that it is impossible to gauge the effectiveness of a front office's efforts unless you are on the inside.  Since none of us are, I choose to believe that our FO is good at what they do, given the results on the field, and the general misery of assuming otherwise.

I would be extremely upset. You can claim all you want that the "price was too much", but I know for a fact you can get Ian Kennedy pretty reasonable and all you need to do is take on the salary, and if we don't end up with anyone you didn't try at all in my opinion.

This all day.

If you eat the whole contract the prospect cost should be minimal. It's about money with Kennedy.

And to all who are saying the Twins could stand pat and they are good to go for the next several years, remember what Jim Kaat said just a few years ago (paraphrasing)

'After 1965 we thought we would be back to the World Series again and again. We had young stars like Oliva and Versalles, a feared hitter in the Killer, strong pitching, and yet it didn't come together.

You have to jump when the opportunity presents itself.'

(Kaat was referring to the decision by the Nationals [i think in 2012] to shut Strasburg down for the rest of the year because of innings count. The Nationals were having a great year, and of course, Kaat felt they were acting like Strasburg was made of Balsa wood.)

I hope they make another trade, and I think they will.

If they don’t, it’s important to remember that the bullpen has actually been solid this year. It’s not anywhere close to the disaster some people seem to think it is.

Disappointing if no help is added? Definitely.

 

Firing either Falvey or Levine considering where they have this team after 3 years, from where it was?.......Idiotic. A knee jerk reaction like that would set the team back from the direction it's headed in. 

I would have checked my spark plugs at the beginning of the season and replaced them once I knew they were faulty....... . 

Sure, because we all know that spark plugs only fail in winter, and when they do fail, loudly announce that fact immediately.

I think many of the prospects mean very little to the Twins especially with the core they have at this point in time. Buxton, Kepler, Polanco, Rosario, Sano, Garver, etc... There really isn't a lot of space on this team for position players in the minors. In my opinion many of those prospects should be worth more to other teams than they are to the Twins. Use them or eventually lose them anyway?? Go out and get a couple of relievers and or a starter and a reliever, etc....

I think many of the prospects mean very little to the Twins especially with the core they have at this point in time. Buxton, Kepler, Polanco, Rosario, Sano, Garver, etc... There really isn't a lot of space on this team for position players in the minors. In my opinion many of those prospects should be worth more to other teams than they are to the Twins. Use them or eventually lose them anyway?? Go out and get a couple of relievers and or a starter and a reliever, etc....

Right. The Twins have the opportunity to improve in areas of need by trading from areas of strength.

Completely unrelated from the thread, but I have mowed my lawn after dark with a headlamp before. I have also walked across the street to get my neighbor's mower and mowed my lawn with his mower (we're long time friends). Sometimes you need to get things done, so you do. 

In this analogy where the mower is the prospects and the yard is the trade return, I assume the Twins neighbor (another MLB club) isn't going to let them use their prospects to get a deal done, at least not without some cost.  If it's a beer, fine.  If it's your brand new car, not so much.

Sure, because we all know that spark plugs only fail in winter, and when they do fail, loudly announce that fact immediately.

Spark plugs usually die in the winter, yes. Replacement kits are sold to replace filters and spark plugs every spring. If you don't replace these parts in the spring, if your mower starts at all, it won't be starting for you all summer.

Even worse, if you fail to replace the filters every spring you will often trip a fuel sensor which won't allow you to start the motor at all for up to a day.

Not doing spring maintenance could be called an executive failure.

Executives should not be dealing with all those little distractions.

 

And yes, many executives would be out there yelling and demanding that the lawn gets mowed, regardless of all those little things, even the rain.

This is an analogy, and therefore these are not little distractions.  The faulty spark plug is an injured prospect, the rain is a team not being interested in your prospects, picking the kid up from school is working on a separate deal, and getting rear-ended is another team swooping in and stealing the player you were trying to acquire.  None of those are little distractions, and are all things every baseball executive must deal with. 

Demanding something get done despite insurmountable obstacles is a good way to make calamitous decisions.

would your wife accept any of those excuses for why the lawn still isnt mowed?

I know for certain Mrs Chief wouldn't. Because, you know...excuses.

"I don't care that it's raining ... you could've mowed the lawn 2 days ago!" - Mrs. Chief.

In baseball terms, Falvine is Chief, the fans are Mrs. Chief, and 2 days ago is last winter when everyone wanted them to actually address the bullpen.

So if you go out to mow your yard, but the mower won't start because of a faulty spark plug, and once you've replaced the spark plug, its started to rain, and once it stops raining you have to go pick up your kid at school, and once you've picked up your kid you get rear-ended on the drive back home, and once you've finished dealing with the police and insurance the sun has gone down, leaving the yard unmowed, it's because you didn't try?

 

Yoda, by his own definition, is also a failure.  He did not prevent the rise of the Sith, leading to the creation of the empire, and the death of millions, if not billions of sentient beings.

Damn, that first paragraph should be a Country Song.  

For the "we're set up to compete for the next 5-7 years" crowd ... the 2006 Minnesota Twins would like to have a chat.

Personally, I'll trade big-time, short-term success over extended, middling success for the next few years. 1 World Series trophy > 10 division title banners.

Damn, that first paragraph should be a Country Song.  

And the second paragraph should be a movie!

Trade or no trade, it's been a great year and really exciting to see all the postings on trading day deadline!!!

I hope they find a good deal, but I'm more excited about the excitement all this season for the Twins!!

Interesting.  Googling "Mets want Buxton" leads to a lot of results, all of which invariably mention LEN3 as the only source for that claim; LEN3 is, of course, NOT on the Twins payroll, but rather the Star Tribune's.

 

But seriously, go on.  Explain to me how any of the scenarios I posited before can't possibly be true.

Semantics.

LEN3 knows where his bread is buttered, and hasn't done anything to stir the pot in at least 5 years. Unless, of course, that stirred pot is the best place to get some sort of stew or soup during spring training.

I would be very unhappy if another move isn’t made today. I would definitely question my level of support going forward. That’s coming from someone who was excited to watch the Twins every day during all the 90+ loss seasons.

I know the few posts I have made are risk averse when it comes to trading prospects, but if not now, when? The Twins have a great offense comprised of young players entering their primes. They have one of the deepest prospect pools in all of MLB. Go get some pitchers!