Nashvilletwin

This post is exactly correct in that it identifies the necessary switch in franchise strategy given the poor results this year (this is what small to mid market teams do when the window clearly has closed - that’s just today’s MLB) and where the primary responsibility now resides for the successful execution of that strategy (coaching staff throughout the organization), Think about this possible starting lineup in 2023: 1. Arraez (2B) 2. Martin (LF) 3. Buxton (CF) 4. Kiriloff (1B) 5. Miranda (3B) 6. Polanco (DH) 7. Larnach (RF) 8. Garver/Jeffers/Rortvedt (C) 9. Lewis (SS) Bench: Gordon, Rooker, Celestino Obviously, there will be changes to this (i.e., maybe a Kepler or Sano turn things around), but the point is that with Buxton, Polanco and maybe Garver making about $25-30MM and the rest making close to league minimum, these 14 players cost under $40MM. Now think about the pitching staff. We should be able to develop at least three, hopefully 4, solid #2s-#3s out of the ten or so candidates currently in the system. Ideally, another three or four are in the pen. That’s over half of the staff on league minimum - let’s say another $10MM. Ownership will clearly spend $120-140MM to pursue a championship. There is now $70-90MM available to: a) add one or two #1-2 starters, b) build a shutdown pen like we used to have and like the ChiSox are doing, and c) add one or two solid position players/bats. There is a solid strategy here. The three key decisions under team control are to resign Buxton, play the young guys in 2021 and 2022 to see what you’ve got, and make sure you have the right coaching staff. As a mid market franchise, we can’t be blessed to realistically compete every year, We’ve had great runs and the possibility is there for another to develop. I, for one, am looking forward to watching the remainder of this year and next to see the plan develop.

The Twins are stockpiling a lot of solid talent at a very low cost with a possible eye on 2023-4. They went for it in 2020-1, but this year didn’t pan out. It happens and now restocking for another solid window is prudent (particularly for small-mid market teams). But the key is to now resign Buxton. The lineup in 2023 could have Buxton (C) Lewis (SS) Martin (LF) Miranda (3B) Kiriloff (1B), Larnach (RF), Arraez (2B), and probably some combo of 2 of our 3 catchers. Maybe some of Gordon, Rooker, Kepler, Sano, and Polanco are still around. But, with the exception of Buxton, the starting eight fielders are essentially at league minimum. In addition, the starting pitching lineup could be very similar with 3-4 good young starters making league minimum in 2023. This sets up nicely for having the capital available to get a few good veterans in ‘23 or ‘24 to make a good run. Who knows, maybe Berrios is one of them. Lets hope for a few more trades today and resigning Buxton.

Ashbury - you are correct. The Cubs only hit 6 homers in that April 1955 game. My bad. Thanks for pointing that out. But it still is a cool historic completely Twins like event!

As far as I can tell, there have been several instances in which a team has hit seven homers and lost. However, today’s Tigers’ victory over the Twins is the first time EVER that the winning team also did not hit a home run. The Cardinals beat the Cubs in April 1955 12-11 and only hit one dinger, That’s the closest to today’s occurrence. That’s what my research shows at least....

I’m wondering in the history of MLB if a team has ever hit seven home runs in a game and lost to a team that hit zero? Can’t be many times that has happened.