Ted Schwerzler

It'd be surprising if they promoted from Triple-A before Pickler or Shelton I'd think, but maybe not.

I think there's merit to what you're saying/ I'm not sure I agree that they as people, or personality wise, come off cold. I will agree that some of the moves are cutthroat or all business. To a certain extent you need that, but in a scenario like Buxton, it probably doesn't outweigh the consequences.

I'm not sure where I indicated that in this article? However, I do think there was a lack of chemistry, and that's been hinter at in a few pressers with the FO. Bringing in veterans to help bridge the gap further cements that notion.

Over the course of the past two seasons I have seen plenty of comments directed towards the Minnesota Twins front office. With Derek Falvey and Thad Levine replacing the Terry Ryan regime, much has been made of their age and new-fangled way of doing things. When looking at it objectively however, are there really any egregious missteps, and isn't this the way baseball is run around the league? From many around the media landscape, nicknames have been given to the duo sitting at the top of 1 Twins Way. Whether calling Falvey and Levine the "Boy Wonders" or "Baseball Nerds," there continues to be monikers that poke at the age and data driven ideology disseminated from the Twins organization. From my vantage point, this either speaks to a lack of knowledge regarding the current game, or a level of malice intended towards individuals deemed unfit for the role. At any rate, using analytics as a buzzword remains out of touch in today's game. Baseball, and front offices in general, have long since incorporated data driven practices to set forth at least a portion of what they do on a daily basis. This isn't specific to the Twins, and it's certainly not new to the game. When attempting to carve out competitive advantages, continuing to do the things you have always done will quickly get you left in the dust. In an effort to attack some of the misconceptions head on, I posed this question last night on Twitter: The responses were aplenty, but genuinely surprised me. Maybe it's because of my follower base being of the more informed variety, but there simply weren't the frustrated and shortsighted responses I expected to get. Sourcing through a few of the comments, I did want to do my best to rebut a few things that I thought lacked context. A couple of comments surrounded the handling of Byron Buxton, which has been a horse I've severely beaten. The FO looks silly for how they handled that, and regardless of the business aspect, you'd have to be looking through a very narrow vacuum to argue in favor of it. The other point that's touched on regards Matt Belisle and the 25 man roster. If there's criticism I believe is fair, it's how the 25 man roster was handled at times this season. It's hard to know what level of impact Paul Molitor needed or wanted over who he managed, but aging veterans were often preferred over potentially more impactful youth. Should that be a reality we move away from in 2019, one can assume Molitor's hand may have been in that process as well. From there, we get into a few complete fallacies. I don't know how you could realistically look back at the offseason and come to the above conclusion. Logan Morrison was added for nearly nothing after hitting over 30 longballs in 2017. Lance Lynn was a big rotation boost, and was brought in late in the game. Although not a free agent, acquiring multiple years of Jake Odorizzi for a low-level prospect was another shrewd move. The winter as a whole was hit out the park by the front office. We know how the talent performed on the field, but there's zero argument to be made against the moves being sensible at the time. Looking across the organization, I'm not sure how there could be a conclusion that the Minnesota Twins aren't in a significantly better position than they were two years ago. The developmental staff of coaches and scouts has been beefed up significantly, and the influx of talent has followed suit. Drafting first overall in 2017, Falvey and Levine put together a very strong class. They then followed up that group with another good set of youth this past season. Supplementing amateurs with prospects acquired through trades this season, identifying talent genuinely seems like something they've excelled at. At this point in the game, you need to come to the table with something better than stathead or moniker driven detractions for the Twins front office. It's not as though computers run the game of baseball, but data driven analysis has turned into an exploitable competitive advantage. Marrying that notion with the human element and squeezing the most out of the on-field product remains the optimal goal. We're embarking on year three for this front office, and the offseason is an incredibly critical one. 2019 remains a season that Minnesota should compete at a high level, and expecting a full tear down or rebuild is nowhere in the blueprint of what is currently taking place. Although being left out of the postseason isn't fun, an objective view of the current landscape should be viewed with a level of positivity. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

Today the Minnesota Twins announced that Paul Molitor will not be brought back as Manager in 2019. With two years remaining on his freshly signed three year deal, it may come as a surprise to some, but it really shouldn't. While it hasn't been a certainty that the Twins front office would make a change, the signs have been there for some time. Now with the opportunity to hire their guy, Derek Falvey and Thad Levine prepare for a pivotal offseason. Molitor was offered a three-year extension following the 2017 season. Despite looking like he would be let go last season, Molitor's Twins got into the playoffs and he earned a Manager of the Year award because of it. With the Manager of the Year award being loosely tied to surprise performances, it's not a huge shock he was the one voters selected. Had he missed the postseason however, the award likely lands elsewhere, and the three-year deal never gets done. Being brought back this season, it appeared that Minnesota's front office thought long and hard about the decision. He was not immediately re-upped last winter, and there was never any glowing indications of support from the top during the 2018 slate. While he was offered a three-year contract, a two-year deal after such a close decision for change likely would've looked like little more than a placeholder. Certainly there will be some Twins fans that can't wrap their head around guys like Brian Dozier and Eduardo Escobar being gone in the same season. Adding St. Paul native Paul Molitor to that list isn't going to do management any favors with that crowd. However, give the front office credit for not concerning themselves with those opinions. Making baseball decisions based on feelings or how an individual relates to an organization is a good way to quickly venture down a wrong road. At the end of the day, fans clamor for winning more than anything else, and being solely focused on that purpose is of the utmost importance. Embarking upon one of the most important offseasons in recent memory, Derek Falvey and Thad Levine will now begin with a managerial search. They are able to bring in someone of their choosing, and internal candidates such as Derek Shelton and Jeff Pickler could be waiting in the wings. The ties to Texas and Cleveland still reside in both, so Sandy Alomar or Jeff Bannister may be of some intrigue as well. I'm not sure where they turn, but I'm of the opinion that it will be a good source regardless. While there's been some in-season roster decisions I've found myself in disagreement with the front office, the vast majority of trades, acquisitions, and moves have been well executed. Although it's easy to mock a process that seems new or uncertain, it's also hard to really dig in and not see positive ripples reflecting throughout the system. Managers don't make an incredible impact during a Major League Baseball season, but Paul Molitor generally did less with more during games. He left opportunity on the table, and neither Byron Buxton or Miguel Sano truly developed under his tutelage. The organization wanting to get someone on staff that can take the big league club to new heights is a worthy ask. Now that Molitor is out, Falvine is in and it's on them to find who's next in charge. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

There's no denying that the 2018 Minnesota Twins fell short of expectations. This club came into the year having played in the Postseason a season ago, and they were looking to target the Cleveland Indians at the top of the AL Central division. Winning just 78 games, that didn't happen, but there was plenty for this group to hang their hats on. Obviously a season in which we saw Paul Molitor's squad take a step backwards, there's a few key areas needing improvement. Before getting into those narratives however, we need to take a look at which positive launching points could loom large for the offseason and year ahead. Kyle Gibson Mid-way through the 2017 Major League Baseball regular season, it looked as though the former 1st round draft pick would be a non-tender candidate at the end of the year. Then things clicked, and he posted a 3.76 ERA over his final 13 starts. What's only made it look better, is that Gibson has carried the strong performance into 2018. He wrapped up the year trailing only Jose Berrios in terms of fWAR among Twins pitchers, and his 3.62 ERA was easily a career best. The FIP and xFIP numbers suggest there's some room for regression, but it isn't too worrisome. Another key development is that Gibson showed a heightened ability to get batters out on his own. With a career high 8.2 K/9, his strikeout numbers were notable for the first time in his career. Thanks to the emergence of Gibson, and presence of both Berrios and Jake Odorizzi, the Twins rotation is in a good place. Jake Cave In baseball, you are rarely afforded multiple significant opportunities to make an impact. After being pulled from the Yankees glut of outfielders, the Twins afforded Cave an opportunity and he ran with it. As a 25 year-old rookie, he's a bit past the typical prospect shine. That said, he posted a more than enticing .797 OPS and showed plenty of power potential. Right now, he's locked in as nothing lower than the 4th outfielder for the Twins going into 2019. Cave took the run likely tabbed for Zack Granite coming into the season, and he could very well push Robbie Grossman out of the organization as well. If there's an area to focus on when it comes to development, it's easily plate discipline. A 102/18 K/BB ratio leaves plenty of room for a higher level of on-base prowess to rear its head. Taylor Rogers Losing a bullpen piece like Ryan Pressly was going to create opportunity for another arm to step up, and Rogers did in a big way. Leading the Twins in fWAR out of the pen, Taylor posted a career best 2.63 ERA. It was the third straight season in which he's lowered his ERA, and he finished with a career best 9.9 K/9. Although velocity isn't his game, he gets pitches by batters, and doesn't give up free passes. On top of being dominant as a whole, Rogers wasn't simply a LOOGY either. Sure, he nuked lefties to the tune of a .428 OPS, but he only allowed righties to post a .643 OPS against him in the process. Across over 68 innings this season, he only allowed three longballs, and he pitched his way to the back of the Minnesota pen. Eddie Rosario Spanning the group of exciting prospects that rose the Twins ranks together, it's probably a bit surprising that Rosario has emerged the most. That said, we're absolutely at that point in their collective development. After an .836 OPS season in 2017, Rosario solidified his ability by performing at an All-Star level in 2018. From where I sit, I don't think there's much more to the ceiling of the Minnesota left fielder, but the floor shouldn't be significantly lower either. A guy that has a cannon in the outfield, and can hit as a middle-of-the-order threat, he's going to be a guy that makes sense for a long term extension. Rosario can be a star for the Twins, and that came somewhat out of nowhere. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

At this point, we have no idea what 2019 will bring for Joe Mauer. Already a father of Twins, Joe and his wife are expecting their third child in November. At 35-years-old, and having suffered another concussion in 2018, the body doesn’t rebound quite as rapidly. He’ll play less than 130 games this season, which represents the lowest mark since 2014. If he wants to hang it up, there’re plenty of understandable reasons to do so.As suggested by Seth Stohs earlier this week, I’m of the same feeling that selfishly I don’t want to see Joe go. He’s given over 15 years of his life to Twins Territory. He’s a Minnesotan who has consistently been “one of us.” Embarking on a season in which Mauer doesn’t emerge from the home dugout at Target Field isn’t yet something I’ve come to grips with. If that’s where we’re at though, there are a few things to say thank you for. First and foremost, thanks for being the right guy. Way back in 2001, Terry Ryan went with the local product over heralded USC pitcher Mark Prior. From Cretin- Derham Hall, Mauer needed fewer than 300 minor league ballgames before making his big-league debut. With the heartthrob smile and the sideburns of envy, the St. Paul native took the Twins by storm. It will be years before the shirseys, signs, and number 7’s are drowned out at Target Field. For eight years, prior to his marriage of Maddie Bisanz, Mauer was the apple of many female Twins fans eyes. His play on the field, looks off it, and everything in between had suggested the organization had hit a home run. In the relative crap shoot that is the major league baseball draft, there are no certain things, even at the first overall pick. Joe, thank you for being the right one. Secondly, thank you for taking the money. Eight years at $184 million is a contract which many around Twins Territory still can’t adequately grasp. Having won a batting title before making your first million and costing the Twins just $21.5 million for two more batting titles and an MVP, the upcoming payday could’ve been so much more. For nearly a decade, Mauer looked like the second-coming of Johnny Bench. He brought offensive prowess to a position that had long since given up on it. He was a defensive stalwart, and he did all of it while attracting little attention to himself. In a larger market, the check would’ve been bigger. The career may have included a ring or two, and the endorsement opportunities would have been produced by the boatload. Mauer took a deal he earned, and one he’s outplayed over his career, to do what very few have done. Joe stayed home. 15 years with one organization is truly remarkable in today’s professional landscape. For that Joe, thank you. Thirdly, thank you for never ceasing to work. Despite being one of the best catchers to ever play the game of baseball, the sport threw in its own challenges. Due to health, and a significant brain injury, first base was thrust upon Mauer. At the age of 31, Joe had outlasted his knees, but his body needed a relocation. Replacing Justin Morneau at first base was no simple task, but it was one that unsurprisingly was met with immediate success. The metrics dictated Mauer as a natural, posting 4 DRS and a 2.3 UZR in his first season in the new role. Three years later in 2017, Mauer had statistically been deserving of a Gold Glove, and arguably was the best defensive first basemen in baseball. While denied the award, he was set to join the company of Placido Polanco and Darin Erstad as the only players to win Gold Gloves at multiple positions. Even in the latter years of his career, Joe was still brandishing his claim as being the best. For your tireless work ethic, thank you Joe. Fourthly, for everything you’ve been to the state of Minnesota and Twins Territory as a whole. Over the years Twins fans have gravitated toward their superstars, from the generation of Killebrew, to those who grew up with Puckett, and finally fans who’ve been through it with you. Over the years, Minnesota has done an exceptional job celebrating greats like Oliva and Carew, Santana and Hunter. There are certain players who have transcended even those ranks however. Whether or not the Hall of Fame one day does call, and it absolutely should, Mauer has cemented his place within Twins history forever. The number seven will cease to be worn forever, and a new plaque will be added above the outfield wall at Target Field. Despite being a quiet and reserved individual, that smile Joe cracks each time he’s publicly moved by adoration should be in abundance in the weeks and months following his final game. For transcending a generation, thank you Joe. Finally, for allowing us as fans to have this moment and share it with you. World Series rings are the goal, but they’re a reflection of team accomplishment. As fans, realizing that there’s one true winner in a space of 30 competitors, we must find other areas to measure a certain level of success. Teams and organizations can go decades without a player who truly moves them. Thanks to a decent amount of good fortune, we’ve been blessed in that regard. Whether it’s following Sunday’s game, a month down the road, or two years from now, the day in which Mauer hangs them up is one that will be remembered. This isn’t a retirement decision that flies under the radar or happens unceremoniously in the middle of the year. Because of everything Joe has given the Twins, the day he calls it quits can be a time for observers to return the favor. Although 2018 wasn’t the season Twins fans wanted it to be, the 1,800-plus games in which Joe Mauer has donned a Minnesota Twins uniform couldn’t have been more appreciated. We’ll continue to soak up these moments with you Joe, and when you’ve reached your decision, will be at peace in it as well. For everything you’ve done, and will continue to do, thank you. Click here to view the article

Sorry I didn't clarify. Those are all time MLB ranks. Fielding percentage isn't a real great descriptor of defensive acumen, but it's impressive nonetheless.

With this week signifying the last of the 2018 Major League Baseball regular season, we very well could be watching the final games of Joe Mauer's career. Yet to indicate or announce his intentions for 2019, the Minnesota Twins longtime star has compiled quite a resume. Over the course of this season, he's surpassed plenty of the legends and greats before him throughout Twins history. Trying to narrate that tale is one I'd fall short of, but the numbers do some significant justice. Although the meat and potatoes of Joe's career is how he's been a lunch pail type player, that's come to work every day, and simply got the job done. He put together a 7-10 year stretch in which he was on par with Johnny Bench for the title of greatest catcher the game has ever seen. He reinvented himself and became a defensive wizard at first base. He's had ups, and he's had downs. Wherever along the journey you'd like to examine though, the final tallies are nothing short of impressive. Joe is who he has always been, and the living legend isn't ever going to acknowledge his rightful place in Twins Territory. We can do that for him though, simply by using his merits. .306 career average- 3rd all time for the Twins. Behind Carew and Puckett 1011 runs- 3rd all time for the Twins. Behind Killebrew and Puckett .388 on-base percentage- 3rd all time for the Twins. Behind Carew and Knoblauch 2,114 hits- 2nd all time for the Twins. Behind only Puckett 599 extra-base hits- 4th all time for the Twins. Behind Killebrew, Puckett, and Hrbek 1,852 games- 2nd all time for the Twins. Behind only Killebrew 3,073 times on base- 1st all time for the Twins. 2009 American League Most Valuable Player 3-time (2008-10) American League Gold Glove Winner- Catcher 5-time (2006, 2008-10, 2013) American League Silver Slugger Winner- Catcher 3-time American League Batting Champion- Only AL C to ever do so. Only C to ever do it 3 times. 6-time (2006, 2008-10, 2012-13) All Star- American League Starting Catcher 2009 Sports Illustrated MLB All-Decade Team Baseball America Major League Player of the Year (2009) Career 49.1 fWAR Career valuation of $306.9MM compared to $218.025MM career earnings Career .995 Fielding % as a C ranks 8th all time Career .996 Fielding % as 1B ranks 5th all time 2006-2013 hit .327/.410/.473 with a 139 OPS+ Would be third 1st Overall pick to make Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, joining Ken Griffey Jr. and Chipper Jones. Selfishly, I hope this isn't the end. I want to see Joe back in 2019 for what should be a competitive season in Twins Territory. Regardless what happens, the list above is otherworldly, and it's been a joy to watch it unfold. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

The Minnesota Twins are now in the final week of their 2018 Major League Baseball season. With a Postseason berth eliminated from reality, the final seven games will be of little significance. Given the opponents coming to Target Field include the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox, opportunity to play spoiler isn't present either. That said, these contests remain a proving grounds for players looking to crack the 2019 Opening Day roster. Right now, there's some intrigue as to whether or not we're witnessing the end of Joe Mauer's heralded career with the hometown team. These could be his final days in a major league uniform, and although I believe he'd be of service to the club in 2019, it appears that no decision has been reached at the present time. For the guys that are significantly Mauer's junior, they are still looking to make a final imprint on the organization in hopes of vaulting themselves into a more secure position next spring. While the final week may be somewhat of a slog for the battle tested veterans, no opportunity can be taken for granted when looking to stay at the game's highest level. This season, the Twins have trotted out more than a handful of rookies. Here's a look back at how they've all performed. Mitch Garver - C Somewhat unfortunately for the organization, Garver was turned loose relatively early this year. Instead of being able to serve as Jason Castro's understudy, he was pushed into a starting role after a knee injury ended Jason's season. While Mitch looked raw behind the plate early on, it's been more than apparent that he made strides as the season went on. Working with veterans like Bobby Wilson, and briefly Chris Gimenez, his glove work improved dramatically. On the offensive side of this, his .734 OPS was more than welcomed behind the dish for Minnesota. He was easily the most productive offensive asset as a backstop, and there appears to be some legitimate pop in his stick. Over a full season, he's a likely double-digit longball guy, and he's pushed himself into the conversation for more work next season. It remains to be seen if Minnesota will make changes at catcher, but Garver didn't hurt his positioning at all. Jake Cave - OF Maybe one of the most shrewd moves in the early tenure of the Twins new front office, Jake Cave was acquired as outfield depth from a Yankees system that simply didn't have room for him. With Byron Buxton having a lost year, and Zack Granite falling out of the picture, Cave harnessed the opportunity presented to him. Early on, Cave should've gotten more run than veteran retread Ryan LaMarre, but that didn't stop him from turning heads on a near daily basis. In 85 games this season Cave owns a .771 OPS and has ripped 12 homers. At 25 years old, he's somewhat of an elder rookie, but there's plenty of reason to believe that this is just scratching the surface. He's easily Minnesota's 4th outfielder to open up 2019, and it's been apparent than he can start for stretches when need be as well. Willians Astudillo - UT After over 630 minor league games, Astudillo finally graced Major League Baseball with his presence. The folk tale of a chubby catcher than picked off runners without looking and never struck out came to the big leagues and initially started as an outfielder, third basemen, and second basemen. Now settled into a utility role, and backup catcher, Astudillo has seen regular run down the stretch. It's just a 23 game sample size, but the .877 OPS is certainly eye opening. It's hard to imagine Minnesota carrying three catches on Opening Day next season, but there's worse ways to use a 40 man roster spot early on in November. This could very well end up being the last we hear of Astudillo, or he could continue to be an out-of-nowhere spark for a Twins team eyeing the Postseason a year from now. Fernando Romero - SP First it was Jose Berrios, and then it was Fernando Romero. When it came to Twins starting pitching prospects, those were the cream of the crop. Romero's electric fastball has pushed him into the conversation of a true ace, and he looked the part in small bursts this season. The numbers themselves are all unremarkable, and he didn't light Triple-A on fire after returning. That said, the 55.2 IP in the majors as a 23 year old should prove invaluable when setting him up for future success. I'd imagine the Twins front office will be looking to upgrade the rotation again this winter, and that likely keeps Fernando at Rochester on Opening Day, As a first man up however, that's a heck of an arm to turn to. The Best of the Rest- Zack Littell, Stephen Gonsalves, Kohl Stewart, and Adnrew Vasquez None of these guys got much time to really cement any sort of significant expectations for the year ahead. Littell, Gonsalves, and Stewart should all open 2019 in the Triple-A rotation, and getting a look at big league talent could do wonders for their offseason preparation. While none of them have dominant stuff, honing in on command and pitchability should continue to remain a key focus for them. Again noting the Twins depth, there's at least one capable big league starter in this trio, and Minnesota having them to turn to next season isn't a bad thing at all. Vasquez was the lone rookie to get a relief chance this season. Working just 2.0 IP despite entering six games, manager Paul Molitor obviously displayed a short leash. Over such a small sample size you can't draw any definitive conclusions, but it's more than apparent that the meteoric rise from High-A to start the year was impressive. At every level, Vasquez posted massive strikeout totals and tended to keep his walks in check. If he can replicate a portion of that for the Twins, they'll have developed a nice pen piece. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

I really like Snell, and I wrestled with him instead of Kluber. I'd have been ok there either way. Think Blake wins a Cy Young during his career for sure.

The Minnesota Twins will embark upon the 2019 major league baseball season with plenty of areas to improve. After a season in which expectations were not met across the board, a lot of soul searching needs to be done within the organization. Although no one expected a Wild Card team from 2017 to fall off so badly, the reality that many answers lie internally acts as a beacon of hope. Chief among the positives, is that the Twins appear to have a rotation for the first time in a long while.When the dust settles on the 2018 season, the Minnesota Twins will close out a September that has featured starters such as Kohl Stewart, Zack Littell and Stephen Gonsalves. Sure, all those guys have taken their lumps at times, but the coaching staff has used these meaningless games to get a handful of prospects some very important big-league exposure. When it comes to the rotation, depth is present, and there’s more than a couple of names ready to be written in. Right now, today, we can safely suggest that Jose Berrios, Kyle Gibson, Jake Odorizzi, and Michael Pineda will start the season in the Twins rotation. That foursome is plenty capable of leading a club to the playoffs, on paper, and that’s a very good place to start. Berrios has flashed the ability of a budding star, Gibson is rounding into his expected form, and the numbers suggest that Odorizzi isn’t far behind. Pineda didn’t debut due to a knee injury, but he should be virtually 100% this spring. During 2018 Twins starters have posted an 8.25 K/9 which was the 14th best mark in the majors. A season ago, they ranked 26th in that category with a 7.08 K/9 mark. Although they’ve stepped back a bit in terms of ERA ranking, the 4.58 mark trumps the 4.73 tally they were at in 2017. To suggest that the front office has begun to make it’s mark on the bump would be an understatement. Certainly, it’s Berrios who gets all the praise, and he’s been more than deserving of it. His 3.81 ERA on the year isn’t much of an improvement from the 3.89 mark set last year, but he’s fanning more batters and issuing fewer walks. Jose’s key will continue to be limiting the homers, having given up 1.2 per nine this year. When dissecting both Odorizzi and Gibson, it’s hard not to look at both in a similar context. Gibson is the guy who appears to have taken the largest steps forward, but there’re a few areas of suggested regression. Nonetheless, he’s transformed himself into a reliable middle-of-the-rotation piece, and that has significant value for the Twins. Jake took his lumps for a while with his new team but has turned it on down the stretch. Since August 3rd, the former Rays starter owns a 3.83 ERA and 3.49 FIP. Another guy who is middle-of-the-road, Odorizzi is a solid option. It’s certainly fair to question what the Twins will get in Michael Pineda. Although Tommy John surgery is plenty routine at this point, he hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since July 5, 2017. With the Yankees, he was a hard thrower who generally outshined his ERA with his FIP and could benefit from a more pitcher-friendly ballpark. Another strikeout arm, it’s a solid addition to the Minnesota stable. Yes, you’ve counted correctly, that’s only four starters in total. Right now, Minnesota could opt to turn the reins over to Fernando Romero from the get go. He got a good deal of experience this season and has always been a guy projected to profile at the top of a starting rotation. The front office also will have significant money to spend, and while Dallas Keuchel is the household free agent name, Patrick Corbin is probably the cream of the crop. With only one spot open, and internal depth built in, Minnesota has the luxury of not needing to load up on veteran retreads. Any arm brought in should be at the quality of Gibson and Odorizzi or better. Allowing the new guy to bump each starter back a rung only helps to further solidify the overall water level of the group. For the first time in a while, this organization doesn’t need to completely remake the position group, and they really shouldn’t want to. The Twins are doing a lot of things well on the mound. They’re striking batters out, and they’ve got sustainable answers on a rolling weekly basis. When it comes to searching from within, the likes of Miguel Sano, Byron Buxton, Max Kepler, and others need to display a notion that they’re capable of more. That piece of the puzzle remains to be seen, but it looks like the Twins have the bump covered. Click here to view the article

Unfortunately, I can't control when Statcast releases new information, but find the numbers intriguing. Continuing to suggest he needs to hit is stating the obvious. Noting how exceptional someone is, when it's really that extraordinary, is interesting I guess. On top of that, bat or not, his absence has been felt heavily throughout the Twins pitching exploits this season.

There's only three comments on this, and the amount of detraction towards him as a player because of his offense is already too much. Sure, he had a terrible 2018, but that was a total of 28 games. The guy received MVP votes last year and hit for only a portion of it. Does he need to hit better than he did in 28 games this season? Certainly, but that's beyond obvious.

Recently, the team behind MLB's Statcast came up with another visual and defensive metric for our perusal. It's still astonishing to me that the Baseball Savant platform is a free database to the average fan. That's the reality we live in however, and they've now introduced a Directional Outs Above Average leaderboard. In 2018 Byron Buxton obviously isn't on it. Looking back at least year though, the numbers are extraordinary. MLB.com's David Adler broke down some of his findings using the new tool today on Twitter. Notably, the White Sox Adam Engel has been the most valuable outfielder in baseball this year when it comes to tracking down balls behind him. Quantifying anything above +5 as elite, Engel has tracked down baseballs behind him and to his glove side as good as anyone in baseball this season. That's all fine and well, but the high water mark this year is +5. The Twins centerfielder won the Platinum Glove last season, and watching him play, it was easy to see why. Among players with at least 25 opportunities, Byron Buxton's 29 outs above average was eight clear of his closest competition (Ender Inciate 21). Generating those outs though, Buxton's play behind him is what sets him apart. Working in centerfield, Buxton generated elite totals (+10 and +7) on balls to the left and right field gaps. With 81 home games a year played at Target Field, getting to baseballs towards the high wall in right center or the bullpen fence in left center, saved his pitcher's ERA significantly. With 20 OAA behind him, only the White Sox Engel came close (owning an 18 OAA mark on balls behind him). During 2018, the Twins have gotten just 28 games from Buxton at the big league level. Due to injuries, rehab, and now service time issues, he simply hasn't been on the field for a team that took a significant step backwards. Max Kepler has been one of the most consistently available outfielders for Minnesota in his place, and his nine OAA total is quite the dropoff. As you may expect, this reality has caused quite the problem for the Twins defensively. In 2017 Minnesota outfielders combined for a 24 DRS total, which was good enough for 4th in all of baseball. Fast forward to today and Minnesota owns just a 2 DRS total this season, ranking 17th in the big leagues. There's no doubt it has also contributed to the Twins sliding from 19th to 23rd year-over-year in terms of pitching ERA. There really isn't anything groundbreaking about the concept that Byron Buxton is an immense talent on defense. That premise alone is why the Twins rushed him back from his initial injury this season, and why they were willing to sacrifice both his health and offensive game for the betterment of their team as a whole. That said, it's plenty refreshing to see new metrics reflect just how exceptional Minnesota's center fielder appears through the eye test. Getting a healthy Buxton back next season should do wonders for Minnesota, and he should continue to be a best friend for Twins pitchers. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

As a member of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America, or IBWAA, each year the group is tasked with voting on end of season awards. Having now been a part of the voting process for the past few years, it's always fun to see where we stand in comparison to the BBWAA. In 2018, there's been so many strong seasons from veterans and rookies alike, this one of the most exciting ballots to fill out in recent memory. Ballots are due back to the IBWAA by September 30, but I have already filed my vote. Despite their being a couple of weeks left in the 2018 Major League Baseball season, I'm comfortable with my suggestions for who should take home each award. I'll revisit my selections upon the announcement of final totals later this fall, but here's who I have in each of the ten categories. AL MVP Mike Trout- Angels Others receiving votes- Mookie Betts, Jose Ramirez, Alex Bregman, Francisco Lindor, Matt Chapman, J.D. Ramiez, Chris Sale, Justin Verlander, Trevor Bauer While Mookie Betts has had an incredible season of his own, there's no player in baseball whose team suffers more when they aren't on the field than Mike Trout. He's a revolutionary talent, and with a relative tie in statistical categories compared to Betts, the "Most Valuable" definition came into play for me here. AL Cy Young Chris Sale- Red Sox Others receiving votes- Justin Verlander, Trevor Bauer, Gerrit Cole, Corey Kluber In his third season with the Red Sox, Sale should finally nab his first Cy Young Award. Having came up short many seasons previously, this campaign is one for the ages. He's got a career high strikeout rate, and has paired that with a career low ERA. One of the greatest we'll ever see pitch, Sale takes home the hardware. AL ROY Shohei Ohtani- Angels Others receiving votes- Miguel Andujar, Joey Wendle There was a time that it appeared Miguel Andujar had this award wrapped up, then Ohtani returned from injury. The two-way phenom has put up nearly identical numbers to the Yankees third basemen, despite 40+ less games. Oh, and he was also an ace level pitcher over the course of 10 starts this season. Shohei will need surgery after 2018, but the award should help to legitimize how special this season was. AL Manager Alex Cora- Red Sox Others receiving votes- A.J. Hinch, Aaron Boone Sure the Red Sox have a ridiculous amount of talent on their major league roster, but Cora is still tasked with having it all come together. In his first season, Cora has Boston over 100 wins and looking like the team to beat in all of baseball. AL Reliever Edwin Diaz- Mariners Others receiving votes- Blake Treinen, Craig Kimbrel Diaz is breathing down the neck of Francisco Rodriguez's single-season saves record (62), and hasn't gotten there by any cheap measure. The strikeout rate, walk rate, and ERA are all elite. Although the playoffs are out of the picture for the Mariners, this is going to be a year to remember for the closer. NL MVP Javier Baez- Cubs Others receiving votes- Christian Yelich, Nolan Arenado, Lorenzo Cain, Paul Goldschmidt, Matt Carpenter, Trevor Story, Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer, Scooter Gennett This season, the National League has quite a group at the top of the leaderboards. Although they all fall short of the American League race, this collection is tightly contested among themselves. Baez jumps off the page as a difference maker for the Cubs, and is a large part as to why they own the best record in the NL. NL Cy Young Jacob deGrom- Mets Others receiving votes- Max Scherzer, Aaron Nola, Patrick Corbin, Mike Foltynewicz Wins be damned, there's really no argument to make against the Mets ace taking home the NY Cy Young. deGrom hasn't been gifted run support in virtually any of his outings, but his level of dominance transcends the final tally in the box score. NL ROY Ronald Acuna- Braves Others receiving votes- Juan Soto, Walker Buehler Given the meteoric rise Atlanta has seen in 2018, it's almost fair to wonder whether Acuna belongs in the MVP discussion. Despite missing some time during the middle of the year, Acuna has been nothing short of exceptional while on the field. At just 20 years old, this should be the first of many awards coming to him over the course of a long career. NL Manager Joe Maddon- Cubs Others receiving votes- Brian Snitker, Bud Black The Cubs haven't been the dominant team they were back in 2016, but the best record in the National League is going to send them to the postseason nonetheless. This collection has a shot to bring another championship to Chicago, and Joe Maddon continues to be best suited in helping them achieve that goal. NL Reliever Josh Hader- Brewers Others receiving votes- Adam Ottavino, Jeremy Jeffress Following up a strong rookie debut season, Hader hasn't slowed down at all in 2018. The dominant lefty fans batters at an incredible rate, and has helped to give Milwaukee one of the fiercest relief duos in all of baseball. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

I don't think they believe in Willians as a catcher, just going off of his initial promotion providing time at 2B. Like I said above though, I'm with you to a certain extent. I'll believe the Twins clubhouse was toxic this year. I do think that there's a certain presence that a vet can bring. At some point though, the balance has to equal out with ability.

I think at this juncture of the season, it's an unfair assessment. If it was in a spot like Belisle, where he's taking away time from guys that have more to gain mid-summer, sure. Right now though, the rosters are expanded and they can maybe impart something on the guys that need to make a difference. In regards to his teaching from the bench comment, I wonder at what point you just ask these types of guys to help in a coaching type role rather than a roster spot. Maybe that doesn't have as much relatability then though?

The Minnesota Twins have watched their 2018 season of promise turn towards a different direction, and now ramble on towards a close. Over the course of the year adversity has been a common theme, and in dealing with it, a monumental struggle. When building out a 25-man roster talent obviously reigns supreme, but the addition of personalities able to influence the human element in the optimal way is of the utmost importance as well.Looking back on the offseason, it’s hard not to reminisce about how much talent was acquired through the dollars that were spent. A potentially unconsidered caveat however, is that the amount of one-year deals handed out played out counter-productively within the clubhouse. That sentiment has been offered by a few different publications, and the return of Matt Belisle was noted heavily as one rooted in veteran leadership. As a team takes shape, leadership is a quality that is both formed and earned. Despite being outside of the organization for the vast majority of the year, Chris Gimenez carries a strong reputation for being a veteran leader. When looking to discuss how that leadership impacts the game, a conversation with the Twins backstop seemed imperative. I was able to ask him a handful of questions, and he provided plenty of insight as to what level of impact can be made when the fans aren’t watching. Twins Daily: We often hear of "veteran leadership" as a term tied to why a player may be acquired. How is that defined for you? Is it a vocal thing, lead by example, or something entirely different? Chris Gimenez: Veteran leadership is all the above! It’s absolutely a vocal thing, it’s being able to see things and either address it with the individual or in a group setting. The veterans are the ones that have been there and done that and have either failed or succeed and now are there to offer advice or just lead by example a lot of times! TD: In assembling a 25-man roster, how important is it to have a true leadership presence. Is lacking in that area something that can be debilitating to a clubhouse? CG: In putting together 25 guys one of the most over looked but most important aspects of a team is the leaders! It would be like going into battle but without a plan of attack. Not having someone in that locker room to lead is absolutely debilitating. I’ve often found that the leaders of the clubhouse are the guys who do not play every day! They can see things from a different perspective and are often able to address things. TD: You've obviously been in plenty of big-league clubhouses, and now on two separate Twins teams. What are some of the most important takeaways from how a team comes together in your time as a professional? CG: Teams often really come together around the first month of the season or the first real hardship you encounter. A lot of times the 25 guys that start the year together haven’t had much time together in spring training. Getting guys in the clubhouse joking around having fun on the ball field is what creates that. We often do team dinners on the road to get guys together and hang out off the field. It’s great for building relationships and having all the guys on the same page. All teams are different in how they come together ultimately, but these things help that along a bit. Leaders are integral in facilitating things like this on and off the field. TD: It's probably a little bittersweet going from a contender to a team with no postseason chances this season. When something like that happens how do your personal goals change? What are you looking to bring to Minnesota over the final month? CG: You are right anytime you move down in the standings it’s not ideal, but honestly, I think it was the perfect move for me. This place has really felt like home and what we accomplished last year was nothing short of spectacular. When a group of guys believe in each other it can become a very powerful thing. My goal for the rest of the season is to help wherever I can. Through the twists and turns of a season the team has gotten a lot younger, which is a good and bad thing. My job now is to be a vocal leader in the clubhouse to show these guys how to go about their business daily. Show these guys what it means to be a good teammate and a big leaguer! I will help young pitchers in the video room, catch pens, and give feedback. I’ll also help young hitters with the in-game adjustments they will have to learn to make. Most importantly, I’ll be the guy who shows everyone how to have fun and know that’s ok to do as well! TD: Over the course of your career, you've been employed under both Thad Levine and Derek Falvey at multiple stops. What can you tell us about them as executives that fans may not see or know? CG: Thad and Derek are very smart guys. I know that’s not breaking news, but I think you can expect a very forward-thinking front office. I know they have a plan, and last year might have altered that a bit, but they are very smart and knowledgeable in what they do. Derek has a great eye for pitching so that should be one area to look forward to as they move forward. Thad is great with people and relationships as well as advanced metrics. The plan might have been reset a bit this year, so I think you will still see a competitive team but some young kids getting valuable experience. TD: As a veteran, you've crafted your game over a significant portion of time. Mitch Garver is playing through his rookie year this season and has seemed to progress nicely from early on. What's your assessment of him in the time you've spent working together? CG: First off, Garv has made big strides this year behind the plate! I think we all knew it was in there and the bat plays but Jason getting hurt this year kind of thrust him in there to learn on the fly and he has done a great job. He needs to continue studying hitters, and I’ve been really impressed with his ability to formulate and execute a game plan! This year has been a long one for him, and this last month can really get to you physically if you’re not used to it. Because of that, he will be better prepared in the future as well. I think there is a lot to like about Mitch in the very near future, and I won’t be surprised when he is a very good big-league catcher and has a long, great career. TD: Finally, having been a part of two Twins teams going in opposite directions, what do you think is the biggest factor in turning it around for 2019? Injuries and unfortunate situations have reared their head this year, but where does the biggest area of opportunity lie? CG: Health will always be a big part of the next year. Loosing Erv really hurt as the anchor of your staff wasn’t there. He’s the guy that was supposed to lead by example out there every fifth day. I also think some next steps from a few core players will help that as well. I really like some of the bullpen pieces we have for the future, as well as a few of the young starters. Continuing to sprinkle in guys to fill in the gaps will also help. I love the coaching staff in place, they do a great job with the young guys. Click here to view the article

He signed a two year deal. I'd be shocked if they just released him.

I'd much prefer to see the Twins use a more traditional closer in 2019. In part because I think Hildenberger can be used in other high leverage, and in part because Familia or Herrera would be better suited.

Over the past few seasons, it's been fun to watch the emergence of a few arms for the Minnesota Twins. While starting pitching is obviously the premium you'd like to corner, talent in the relief corps is where some unusual suspects have emerged. From Ryan Pressly to Trevor Hildenberger, the 2018 culprit is a guy that already showed some promise a season ago. Lefty Taylor Rogers has become a mainstay in the Twins bullpen, and after a 3.07 ERA across 55.2 IP during 2017, that was a realistic expectation. As a 27 year-old without much prospect fanfare though, it was safe to question whether the numbers could hold. Utilized best as a lefty on lefty specialist last year, the 3.4 BB/9 provided some reason for pause. While Rogers enjoyed a sparkling ERA, the 4.09 FIP told a different story, and the 7.9 K/9 was nearly a 2.0 K/9 dropoff from his rookie campaign. Fast forward to 2018 and Rogers looks the part of a difference maker. On the year, he owns a 2.92 ERA across 61.2 IP. His 9.9 K/9 is a career high while the 2.0 BB/9 is a career low. In a credit to Taylor, he's also handled himself very well against batters from both sides of the plate this season. Seeing 136 plate appearances versus righties, he's given up a .675 OPS. Against lefties in 102 plate appearances opponents have tallied a .439 OPS. Those numbers are both down nearly 100 points from where they were in the same situations a season ago. Judging by the splits, it's safe to suggest that Taylor can be much more than a LOOGY for Minnesota. The former 11th round pick probably wasn't assumed to be a back end of the bullpen option, but he's certainly pitched himself into the high leverage conversation. Despite not being cut from the blazing fastball cloth, Rogers has turned to pitch quality in order to get big league batters out. Improving on his pitches as a whole, batters have helped to advance his cause on the mound as well. A 32% chase rate is a new career high, and he is now getting swinging strikes 10.9% of the time (a 3% jump from his rookie season). The former Wildcat is seeing contact against him at the lowest rate of his career, and batters are generating hard contact only 31.2% of the time (which has also led to a career low 6.7 HR/FB). With Minnesota having transformed the bullpen yet again this year, 2019 is going to be rip with new opportunity. Trevor Hildenberger, Addison Reed, and Rogers are among the few certainties. From there the front office will need to acquire or decide upon internal options once again. Having a guy like Rogers step up into a role that can provide accountability from the get go is a very nice development. No matter what level of loss is experience during a down season, being able to generate productivity and some level of certainty for the future is a must. Minnesota has a few areas they can point to along that thread from 2018, and Rogers should be chief among them. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz