Article: Five Key Improvements for 2015

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Can you pinpoint why you don't like Gardy as manager?  I see lots of blame going his way for a talentless roster.

Can you elaborate on the claim that this is a talentless roster? Not trying to make this personal, I just want to understand why people believe this. The back end of the rotation is bad; I get it. What about the rest?

[tobi0040]

I don't see Mauer as a top five problem per se, but I do wonder how many players making $20M in a season fail to ever carry their team on their back for at least some short stretch during a season. We need our best hitter to be someone who looks to hammer a pitch when runners are on base, not look to coax a damn walk.

 

I'd re-phrase the problem as a situation where we don't have that player- yet. Maybe Arcia can grow into that, as he seems to have a fire in his belly that's been missing from all outward appearances. Or maybe we have to wait for someone like Sano or Buxton.

 

It is bigger than one player though.  We are 63-87.  If we added Clayton Kershaw (7.63 WAR) and took out Nolasco (-.4 WAR), we would be 70-80 right now.  On pace for 75 wins and 87 losses.

 

Assuming our CF is replacement level, adding Trout as well (7.76 WAR) would make us 83-79.  Detroit has 84 wins right now wth 12 left.

 

WAR is not perfect, but it can help us with perspective.

Edited September 16, 2014 by tobi0040

[bird]

It is bigger than one player though.  We are 63-87.  If we added Clayton Kershaw (7.63 WAR) and took out Nolasco (-.4 WAR), we would be 70-80 right now.  On pace for 75 wins and 87 losses.

 

Assuming our CF is replacement level, adding Trout as well (7.76 WAR) would make us 83-79.  Detroit has 84 wins right now wth 12 left.

 

WAR is not perfect, but it can help us with perspective.

Of course it's more than one player. That's why the roster will be about 80% turned over by this time next year. And that's a pillar of my argument that an improved Mauer isn't solving a top five problem. It's going to take a corner OF from elsewhere, and probably a young two-way catcher from outside, to supplement Santana, Dozier, Mauer, Vargas, Sano, Arcia, Buxton, and role players like Plouffe, Escobar, Polanco, and Rosario. But what I'm saying is that one or more of these guys has to step up and give us the kind of performance and leadership that every championship club gets from its best player. 

[tobi0040]

Of course it's more than one player. That's why the roster will be about 80% turned over by this time next year. And that's a pillar of my argument that an improved Mauer isn't solving a top five problem. It's going to take a corner OF from elsewhere, and probably a young two-way catcher from outside, to supplement Santana, Dozier, Mauer, Vargas, Sano, Arcia, Buxton, and role players like Plouffe, Escobar, Polanco, and Rosario. But what I'm saying is that one or more of these guys has to step up and give us the kind of performance and leadership that every championship club gets from its best player. 

 

I guess I misunderstood what you were saying then.  The part about not having the player that can carry us for stretches at a time being a big componenet led to my 1 or 2 player rant.

[shimrod]

As someone commented earlier, the Twins fundamentals have gone progressively downhill ever since TK left. That's my number one beef with Gardenhire, his toleration of poor play (defense, basepaths) and failure to hold players accountable.

 

IMO Mauer needs to hit the weight room. I recall early in his career Torii Hunter was quoted as saying "wait till he get's his man muscles". Mauer never did.