sjunisu

You nailed exactly my thoughts as well. Need to consistently apply performance standards. This should be the make or break year for Falvine/Rocco - but I have an uneasy feeling this won't be the case. And if so, then what are the performance standards for the organization? Intangibles rather than wins/losses? Given the costs to attend a game have increased significantly, expectations increase as well.

I would much rather have a roster that looks like what you published here than what this FO has trotted out the last 2 yrs. I am done with signings like Gallo, Shoemaker, Happ, Colome, Bundy, Archer, and the constant and numerous retreads Falvine has trotted out from the waiver wire that have provided absolutely nothing to build upon. At least this would allow the organization to determine exactly what we have in the pipeline and provide some further prospects if the trades proposed would occur - as this team is nowhere close to serious contention. Ability to give a final grade on the FO ability to create and form a minor league pipeline. Let the leather meet the road.

The answer is simple - $$$. We have yet to lose out on a player where we were the high bidder. End of story. When we become the high bidder, then we will sign free agents.

The "Well what you do" line is tired and a cop out. This duo has done nothing that a semi-well informed person couldn't have done in regards to drafting, trading, and FA acquisitions. And have utterly failed on the 'training' front given our rash of injuries. Outside of the Cruz/Ryan trade, they have nothing to hang their hat on. Personally I would be happy to answer a question like this when Joe Pohlad is willing to give me Falvey's contract. Until then, most people don't work for free.

We the fan base must be Oliver Twist in this nightmare - "Please sir, may we have more...." More of the same talent development, drafting, trading, and FA signings.......

I have not posted on this site in over a year as my criticism of the FO was often met with distain (certainly there were some who were also critical, but a smaller percentage than the cheerleaders for sure). Beast points it out perfectly. Interesting to see the tenor of the site has changed dramatically in 1 yr - despite this FO having the same stripes as previous years. Falvine is the same today as they were one year ago, 3 years ago, and 5 yrs ago. They have yet to show a compentcy in any significant aspect of a FO - Trading, Developing Talent, Drafting, or Signing FA. Gallo and whomever else follows is just more of the same.

Chicken Little had no prior history to go off of for his pronoucement of doom. We Twins fans have plenty of history (and recent) to support this position. Well written Nick!

The easy answer is to simply watch the actions of Pohlad and the FO (especially the curent one, but past ones as well), not listen to the words. If we simply do that, over the course of the last 2+ decades you will see an organization whose total focus is to maximize cash flow/profits. If they stumble into winning along the way to profit maximization then that is a bonus. This is the one thing the organization can lay claim to as their area of expertise - not free agent acquisition, not player development, not international signing, and not drafting new talent. Maximizing profit/cashflow which is what this ownership has always wanted.

Let me help you a little bit with understanding my post. 1 Time out of 24 they have 'splurged'. 11 times they have spent just 'average'. And 12 times they have gone less than their revenue rank - which I would define as CHEAP. If they would go as many times over their rank as under, then at best you could call them average - which is simply not the case. Seems you also interchange average/mean with median rankings. League average is skewed higher due to some really high spenders. I have not specifically done the math, but 10-15% less than average may be higher that the median which would be 15. If I can afford to buy a Honda, but routinely get a POS Dodge then most people, especially my family would call me CHEAP.

Yes the Twins have now ONCE ponnied up for a real FA (Donaldson) and yet there was debate whether he was the right player to do this with (and the debate still rages on). I would not personally hang my hat on a team and FO that has accomplished a simple feat such as this once. As for 2022 - not sure I would call our chances 'excellent' unless the team/FO miraculously triple the number of of real FA they have signed to 3 from the current 1. I for one will believe it when I see it given past history. Too many times have I been fooled to fall for this again. As for Pohlads being cheap - over the last 20-25 yrs how many time have the Twins been in the top third of payroll vs the bottom third of payroll? Here is the breakdown of Twins payroll rank since 1998: Top 1/3 - 1. Middle 1/3 - 11 (most frequently 18/19). 20th or less - 12 (bottom 4 a total of 4 times) Not sure what your definition of low/cheap is, but the above figures certainly fit my definition.

You are mistaking jealously and insecurity for anger and frustration. The Vikings are an absolte basketcase and have been for years (which is unfortunate as they have owners who are willing to spend money and appear to be fans of the game). The Wild and Wolves have owners that are clueless on how to win in their respective sports (although the Wild hiring GMBG was a strong move and looks like might slowly move them forward). As for the Twins, the owner cares more about yearly cash-flow than any sense of loyalty/responsibility to the fans (and don't get me started with its a business and they need to make money - the massive increase in franchise valuation is where they make their money, as it is with any owner/franchise). I could understand the Pohlads approach if the Twins were their primary business (like when Al Davis owned the Raiders), but the Twins are just a cog in the Pohlad money machine. Unlike other major sports owners, it does not appear that owning the franchise provides them with any real joy or excitement - which honestly shows in the performance and approach of the team over time.

I honestly did not even think this was debatable at this point. We got the use of a 4th outfielder (which are a dime a dozen) for a lottery ticket that looks like cashed big and would certainly look good in our rotation going into 2022. I don't need to be Nostradamus to know the Yankees will have won this trade in the same way they have been dominating our Twins over the last decade - in decisive fashion ?

Maybe we can all form a circle and sing Kumbaya and be thankful our billionaire owner overlords simply let us have the privledge of watching their teams perform while continually giving them more of our tax money. ?

Nick - I like your writing and willingness to put out a very public plan, but I do not see this plan as having a 'Good' rotation in 2022. Corey Kluber, Charlie Morton, Alex Cobb, Andrew Heaney at this point in their careers are back-end starters. Same with Pineda. Taillion I would realistically put in th 3/4 range at this point. Dobnak I view more as a fill-in type bouncing between Twins/Saints. Right now I see 2 pitchers for the Twins (Ober and Ryan). I do think they could have 1 more from internal selections you listed as a back-end option at some point next yr (haven't seen any of them yet). But in order to get to 'Good' (heck even average) they are going to have to spend money or trade real assets which the FO has not been willing to do. Two of Stroman/Rodon/Gausman/Ray with our internal options might get us slightly above average next yr. If the two are more like Kluber or Duffy (who I would be fine with as 3/4) leading the charge, then the staff won't even be average. Two of those 4 are going to cost $34-40M and unfortunately the Twins have never spent that on a pitcher (let alone 2). However, if they could get 2 of those 4 (or similar) along with Maeda back in 2023, along with growth from the internal candidates, they would have the makings of a 'Good' staff by 2023 which at this point is the best case scenario.

I tend to agree with you, but our trade history with the Yankees is less than stellar and usually shows the Twins on the losing end of the trade (but the Twins keep going back for more - Please sir, may I have another :))