Can you spot an early trend?

[USNMCPO]

 

They've played 11 games so far right? Ok...

 

I'm enjoying the start but talk about the WS or playoffs is getting a little carried away IMO. A record even close to .500 would be a major step for this team. 

I know you are right in my mind, but as a lifelong Twins fan, my heart says enjoy the hell out of it and never stop dreaming.

[Shaitan]

I'm enjoying it so far, but have they won any games where they've walked fewer than 5 times? You have to hit to score runs too.

[Tweety]

Here's what I'm worried is going to happen:

 

A hot early season will obscure the massive hole that is basically our entire pitching staff, convincing the front office to not sell high on our couple short-term veteran assets, and ride it out. Our young lineup blossoms, but the lack of any high-upside pitching depth means that we're on the edge of contention for 5 years, and then our promising young offense ages out leaving us back where we started.

 

Thoughts?

[ScrapTheNickname]

 

Despite the fact that not many of the actors have changed, this is a different team this year. In comparing the two teams, my perception is that there are several meaningful differences, and it's not too early to say they aren't fundamental in nature. Young players emerging, team defense, a stronger and deeper bullpen, a better hitting coach, an improved manager. BUT...the one area I'm skeptical about, where we may not be seeing a sustainable and fundamental upgrade in the works, is the rotation.

 

I'm a big Tom Kelly disciple that a team goes as their rotation goes. Last year I was pessimistic about them advancing further along because I felt they had a hodgepodge of mediocrity and no ace. We got awful instead of mediocre, and no ace. A true #1-2 guy impacts a team psychologically as well as by increasing the team's chances dramatically every fifth game. This year, other than Gibson, we have true mediocrity. What a relief, right? And of course Ervin is acting the part of a #1-2 starter. For now. If this keeps up, the wild card is not out of the question.  I'm not optimistic about this however. I expect to see a decline in performance from one or more, an injury to one or more, and I'm not as optimistic about getting mediocrity immediately from anyone in AAA, including Berrios. 

 

I see this team flirting with .500. I'll take it.

I would say (tongue in cheek) that no one flirts with .500. Teams flirt with winning it all! That's true flirtation.

[amjgt]

People keep talking about how this is better than an 0-9 start, while I agree, now that we've played 11 games, are we going to change it up?

 

Like...

 

Sure beats a 7-17 April

 

Sure beats a 10-31 first quarter of the season.

 

Where's our bar now?

 

 

 

 

ps. There's a decent chance that by the end of the week, we will have gotten to our win total from the first quarter of last season.

[hybridbear]

 

Here's what I'm worried is going to happen:

 

A hot early season will obscure the massive hole that is basically our entire pitching staff, convincing the front office to not sell high on our couple short-term veteran assets, and ride it out. Our young lineup blossoms, but the lack of any high-upside pitching depth means that we're on the edge of contention for 5 years, and then our promising young offense ages out leaving us back where we started.

 

Thoughts?

I would definitely have feared that with Terry Ryan. I hope that Falvey & Levine are too smart to make such a mistake. I hope Ervin Santana keeps pitching like he has so far this season & that the Twins can trade him for a worthwhile prospect. I also hope Dozier gets on a tear again soon so that the Twins can trade him at the deadline for a King's ransom.

[twinssporto]

 

Here's what I'm worried is going to happen:

 

A hot early season will obscure the massive hole that is basically our entire pitching staff, convincing the front office to not sell high on our couple short-term veteran assets, and ride it out. Our young lineup blossoms, but the lack of any high-upside pitching depth means that we're on the edge of contention for 5 years, and then our promising young offense ages out leaving us back where we started.

 

Thoughts?

I think the staff will be ok.  We can go a long way with just an average starting rotation.  The bull pen can hopefully pick up the remaining slack.  Conversely, there are some good guys we can bring up if the car starts to go off the road.  The improved defense can also act as a crutch for a mediocre pitching staff.

[D.C Twins]

Kepler, Sano, and Planco are progressing nicely so far....this is by far the biggest positive. As stated in another string.... a hot Park or Vargas in AAA with an imploding Mauer in the MLB would make things awfully interesting.

 

If Grossman keeps this up, I will have to issue and apology for my naysaying

[Tweety]

 

I think the staff will be ok.  We can go a long way with just an average starting rotation.  The bull pen can hopefully pick up the remaining slack.  Conversely, there are some good guys we can bring up if the car starts to go off the road.  The improved defense can also act as a crutch for a mediocre pitching staff.

I absolutely agree that this could be a solid team with an average rotation. Problem is, the version of the rotation that took the field last year was a LONG way from average. They were historically bad. I have zero faith in Hughes or Santiago, Santana won't be around after the next couple years (plus he's getting up there in years), and Gibson is only under team control for a couple more years, as well. The only really high-upside arm in the high minors is Berrios, so there's not a surfeit of help coming soon.

[ashbury]

I'm enjoying it so far, but have they won any games where they've walked fewer than 5 times? You have to hit to score runs too.

So the walks correlate to wins, but you want...?

[Linus]

I absolutely agree that this could be a solid team with an average rotation. Problem is, the version of the rotation that took the field last year was a LONG way from average. They were historically bad. I have zero faith in Hughes or Santiago, Santana won't be around after the next couple years (plus he's getting up there in years), and Gibson is only under team control for a couple more years, as well. The only really high-upside arm in the high minors is Berrios, so there's not a surfeit of help coming soon.

I wouldn't worry about Gibson being under control for a couple more years. I would worry whether he will ever be an effective pitcher. People botch about Santiago yet he is the same age as Gibson and has a better track record.

[Shaitan]

 

So the walks correlate to wins, but you want...?

It's unsustainable.

[killertwinfan]

 

I think this only works coming from DaveW... speaking of which, I think he's due for this post

I believe the first time I heard this was when Matt Millen said it. I believe he was still playing at the time.  Soooo, DaveW has to share.  LOL. 

[ashbury]

It's unsustainable.

SSS applies to all aspects of this kind of analysis.

[4thstreet]

The only early trend I see is a Twins offense that is every bit as bad as last season.  And they have nothing in Rochester that makes you have hope that things could get better.  Park needs to get over his injury bug and return with some life in his bat.  That is about all they have outside of Palka who can hit the long ball but will K as often as Rosario.  Speaking of Rosario, that lame duck has one XBH to tie Joe Mauer.  That says a lot about how anemic this lineup is.