Grantland's Division Preview

[Mike Sixel]

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/2015-mlb-preview-al-central-indians-tigers-white-sox-royals-twins/

 

Not exactly "buying" on the Twins this year.......

 

The point about how strong the division is, and the signing of Santana given that and where the Twins' are, that was an interesting bit. The author seems to believe that a rebuilding team should be trying to get younger, and take flyers, not sign league averagish older players. I'd say that comment should be aimed at their bullpen building also.

 

but, ya, if you don't like negative opinions....don't read it.

[gunnarthor]

Doesn't seem to negative but maybe more patient.  I think this years team is similar to the 2001 team but the Grantland guy certainly thinks the team has the future foundation.  I also don't think the other teams are quite as good.  

 

 

I get the concern over the Santana signing but I'm not sure the fan base would have been ok with not doing anything to upgrade the rotation after last year esp after the owner said money wasn't an issue.  So, it is what it is.  Ryan can always make trades down the road if need be.

 

[Mike Sixel]

I agree, he does talk patience.....it was the under 75 wins part I don't think some here will like. It was, afterall, an article about this year, not about 5 years down the line.

[Platoon]

But will he make those trades? And is it the job of the FO to build a team, or to appease the fickle casual fan? A losing team that is building promise is one thing, a losing team that keeps providing farewell tours for fading veterans is another. If the Twins end up sub .500 in June, which is quite possible, who's going to turn out to watch Hunter, Nolasco, Stauffer, E. Santana, and Suzuki?

[Mike Sixel]

I hope this thread is about looking at the 5 teams in the division, not about Terry Ryan and the FO.......we have a LOT of those.

[USAFChief]

It's baseball, anything can happen, but I think it's a fair conclusion to draw that the Twins are most likely going to finish at the bottom of the ALC.

 

 

[Platoon]

It's baseball, anything can happen, but I think it's a fair conclusion to draw that the Twins are most likely going to finish at the bottom of the ALC.

a post like this needs a "I hate to agree" button! :(

[Otto von Ballpark]

My "player we can't wait to watch" for the White Sox would be Rodon.  They should have a fairly short leash for Noesi and hopefully Danks at the back of their rotation.  It's just fun to see a guy rocket to the big leagues.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I think this years team is similar to the 2001 team

Really?  The 2001 opening day roster was 3-4 years younger on average across the board.  The 2001 team also had 50% more future pre-FA seasons to look forward to in its lineup and rotation, and 75% fewer future guaranteed FA season obligations among those starters too.

 

The 2015 team is hopefully a building block to future success, but that 2001 team was a *complete* foundation by itself.  Hopefully 2015 is close in terms of record, but in terms of build/compositon, 2001 was unique.

[John Bonnes]

I'll say this: I think there are quite a few players to watch. I'll be very interested in watcing Danny Santana this year and Kennys Vargas, even moreson than Arcia. I'll also be interested in watching Trevor May, whenever he joins the team.

[Paul Pleiss]

When I look at the roster taking shape this spring compared to the one we last saw at the end of 2014, I can't help but see improvement. This team is better, and will be better, than last season. And the top-level prospects are even closer to contributing. Good things are happening!

 

But.

 

There had to be a but, right?

 

But the White Sox, who the Twins had the best chance to catch, got A LOT better this off season. And while Detroit and Kansas City are significantly worse than 2014, they were both leaps and bounds ahead of the Twins. And Cleveland? They were sneaky good last season, and haven't really done anything except wait for the weather to warm up. They'll likely be at or near the top of the division.

 

It's hard for me to see a way where the Twins aren't cellar dwellars again, which is depressing when you see so many positive signs of improvement from last year. The Twins can probably challenge KC for the 4th spot, but I don't think they have a fighting spot to catch CHI/DET/CLE and battle for 3rd or better in the division.

 

But everyone's tied 0-0 in the record book. So if we're going to dream big, let's get it in now. We may not have that opportunity any longer once we're 6 weeks into the season.