Article: Open Windows

[LeatherAntenna]

One thing to remember about the Indians is that they're also a year older. I think if the Twins still add a decent starting pitcher they can take down the Indians. Biggest problem with it all is the Twins will have to face the Yankees in the playoffs. As the Yankees are also on the up.

Somewhat agree except why would anyone want to fear any team especially the Yankees? Going into a playoff you expect good opposition. I certainly wouldn’t want to say some year, “Wow, we made the playoffs and we are so fortunate that we don’t have to play a Yankee team.”

[mazeville]

Yet another argument for the Twins to sign Yu Darvish.

 

Suffice it to say, I agree fully with this piece.

[Mike Sixel]

It's not likely the division will be this weak again.....Det and the Sox will graduate players this year and next. I have no idea if they can take down CLE or not, but they should get a huge edge in the unbalanced schedule this year. It is a good year to take advantage of what they have been given, imo.

[Nick Nelson]

This puts the Twins in a seriously advantageous position, not only removing barriers in their quest to take the AL Central, but also – potentially – padding their win total for a run at a wild-card spot.

 

As an added note on this, just to provide further context, the Twins will play 57 games this year against the White Sox, Tigers and Royals. That's more than a third of their schedule!

[frightwig]

I don't really expect the Twins to come that close to Cleveland this year. If they don't sign Darvish or Cobb, they probably won't even grab a WC spot again. Right now, I see them as middle of the pack in the league. But, absolutely, this is the time when the front office should start pushing towards the postseason--particularly by improving the rotation.

 

They're not as good as the Astros, Indians, Red Sox, or Yankees; and maybe not as good as the Angels and a few other WC contenders. But if they pick up a good SP, and the veterans can maintain their performance levels of last year, and Gonsalves or Romero has a breakout rookie year, while some other young players take another step up... who knows. They might get lucky. The front office needs to put the team in position to take advantage, if it happens.

[caninatl04]

Had the Twins finished last year, say, 4 or 5 games behind the Indians, then I could find arguments that the Twins could compete this year feasible. But it would take several acts of god, and several Yu Darvishs to make up, what, 18 games.

[wabene]

The new bullpen should help. We do need to sign one quality starter if we're serious. The lineup has to continue it's improvement and be a strength including a break out by Kepler. Could be fun

[Twins33]

Had the Twins finished last year, say, 4 or 5 games behind the Indians, then I could find arguments that the Twins could compete this year feasible. But it would take several acts of god, and several Yu Darvishs to make up, what, 18 games.

That may be right but are they going to go on another 20ish game win streak again? I'm thinking not, though they could win a game every other day and still accomplish a similar result in the end..but my point is that I don't think the teams will be 18 games apart next year if the Twins improve the rotation.

 

The Twins and Indians scored the same amount of runs last year but the Indians pitching was obviously way better. The Twins could possibly catch up with an add of Darvish and the improved bullpen. How much we have no idea. The Twins shaved 101 runs off their runs allowed from 2016 to 2017. We know the 2016 team underperformed but to allow 100 fewer runs seems like a big jump (not sure how common it is to make a 100 run jump in a positive way) and was mostly due to defense. They need to shave another 100 to be up there with all the big boys.

 

The Indians young players could improve too, but I feel like adding Darvish plus the improved bullpen gets us closer than 15 out. Especially when they lost Santana, Jackson (good part time player) and Shaw. Those aren't huge losses but it makes a dent. Though I have zero clue if they lost significant time due to injury for any of their players so that would/could easily make up for the player losses from the offseason. And if our guys slump or don't improve on last year that will hurt too.

 

There's a number of factors involved but I could definitely see a scenario where the Twins are within 5-7 games of the Indians. They absolutely need to improve the rotation for that to be possible though.

[USAFChief]

It would be inexplicable NOT to pour pretty much everything you have into this opportunity.

 

Sign Darvish, trade for Archer. Add a RH hitting 4th OFer. See how serious KC is about dumping Herrera.

 

Go for it.

[Thrylos]

The Twins' goal should not be to have a team good enough to make the post-season through the back door, because of a bad division.  It should be to build a team good enough to win it all.

 

I hope that they learned something from the 00s of post-season futility...

 

The goal should be to have a team that can beat the Indians for the division and the Astros, Yankees, Dodgers, Nats, etc in the post-season.

About time that someone in the Organization says that good enough is not good enough.

[sftwinsfan]

Yeah the 2000's Twins didn't win in the post-season, but in my opinion this team does not have more talent than those teams.  Look especially at 2006.  Mauer starting his prime winning a batting title.  Morneau was the AL MVP.  Torii Hunter in CF in his prime.  Michael Cuddyer in his prime in RF.  CY Young winner Johan Santanna in the rotation.  Solid vet in Brad Radke.  For awhile they had the phenom in Francisco Liriano before he got hurt.  Bullpen had Joe Nathan, Juan Rincon was rock-solid in the 8th.  Had guys like Dennys Reyes and Matt Guerrier before that.  A young Pat Neshek, Matt Garza and Glen Perkins just coming  up.  Man, it sucks they never got far in the post-season with all those guys.  

[Thrylos]

 

Yeah the 2000's Twins didn't win in the post-season, but in my opinion this team does not have more talent than those teams.  Look especially at 2006.  Mauer starting his prime winning a batting title.  Morneau was the AL MVP.  Torii Hunter in CF in his prime.  Michael Cuddyer in his prime in RF.  CY Young winner Johan Santanna in the rotation.  Solid vet in Brad Radke.  For awhile they had the phenom in Francisco Liriano before he got hurt.  Bullpen had Joe Nathan, Juan Rincon was rock-solid in the 8th.  Had guys like Dennys Reyes and Matt Guerrier before that.  A young Pat Neshek, Matt Garza and Glen Perkins just coming  up.  Man, it sucks they never got far in the post-season with all those guys.  

 

That's the epitome of the "good enough" team.  The 2006 team.

 

They had Punto as their starting 3B in the postseason and Tyner as their DH.

 

And as far as rotation goes, was Santana and Radke minus his shoulder.  And Boof.

 

Good enough to make the post season.   And then Oh and 3.

 

Edited February 1, 2018 by Thrylos

[LeatherAntenna]

2006 was quite a team. No telling what happens that year in the playoffs if Litiano doesn’t get hurt.

[gunnarthor]

 

2006 was quite a team. No telling what happens that year in the playoffs if Litiano doesn’t get hurt.

Yeah, health in 2006 (and 09 and 10, too) was a big issue but that's the reality of low payroll teams. Frankly, I've always thought that the Twins decade from 01-10 with 6 division titles and one trip to the ALCS was more impressive than the Yankees one WS win in the same window.

[Riverbrian]

There are multiple windows open. 

 

Multiple Rebuilding Clubs is just one of them. 

 

Competitive Tax Reset is a window

 

The most impressive Free Agent Class in history next year is a window for this eyar

 

Stacked AAA Arms in Rochester is a window.

 

I agree with you Nick... Nice Article 

 

Cleveland... I hand them Nothing!!! 

 

 

 

 

[MN_ExPat]

 

This is a strange comment...

I concur.   Perhaps we can petition the league to award all the teams in the league participation trophies so that all teams and players won't feel left out.

[diehardtwinsfan]

to respond to the original piece,

 

Sports in general are seeing more "tanking" so to speak. There's value in those early picks and everyone knows it... it's far more valuable than a middling finish. In baseball, that's exacerbated by certain teams with resources to perpetually buy away the best FAs and extend their windows... it really does make it hard for the rest of the league to compete in that scenario. If you don't have a window of opportunity, trade your guys for prospects. It means several powerhouse teams and a whole bunch of crap...

 

As for the Twins... I don't get how people say that Darvish will allow us to compete for a WC. We got a WC last year and are returning the same team with an improved pen and some SP depth that we haven't had in ages. Darvish is a go for it move that makes it realistic to compete with Cleveland and a possible deep playoff run.  

 

As for the window, yeah, it's open. We need a guy like Darvish. We have about 4 years with this core and not enough sure things in the rotation to keep said Window open.

[Mike Sixel]

to respond to the original piece,

 

Sports in general are seeing more "tanking" so to speak. There's value in those early picks and everyone knows it... it's far more valuable than a middling finish. In baseball, that's exacerbated by certain teams with resources to perpetually buy away the best FAs and extend their windows... it really does make it hard for the rest of the league to compete in that scenario. If you don't have a window of opportunity, trade your guys for prospects. It means several powerhouse teams and a whole bunch of crap...

 

As for the Twins... I don't get how people say that Darvish will allow us to compete for a WC. We got a WC last year and are returning the same team with an improved pen and some SP depth that we haven't had in ages. Darvish is a go for it move that makes it realistic to compete with Cleveland and a possible deep playoff run.

 

As for the window, yeah, it's open. We need a guy like Darvish. We have about 4 years with this core and not enough sure things in the rotation to keep said Window open.

To your question about competing for a wild card....

 

1. Progress is not linear

2. Other teams have added players

3. They barely won a spot last year.

 

Imo, getting Darvish, or Lynn or Cobb are moves to increase the odds significantly, this year and for three or four more. Passing on them all, including Arrieta? Imo, Dozier leaves as soon as he can. And the team does not win a WC spot this year, or probably next without a lot of luck.

[caninatl04]

That may be right but are they going to go on another 20ish game win streak again? I'm thinking not, though they could win a game every other day and still accomplish a similar result in the end..but my point is that I don't think the teams will be 18 games apart next year if the Twins improve the rotation.

 

The Twins and Indians scored the same amount of runs last year but the Indians pitching was obviously way better. The Twins could possibly catch up with an add of Darvish and the improved bullpen. How much we have no idea. The Twins shaved 101 runs off their runs allowed from 2016 to 2017. We know the 2016 team underperformed but to allow 100 fewer runs seems like a big jump (not sure how common it is to make a 100 run jump in a positive way) and was mostly due to defense. They need to shave another 100 to be up there with all the big boys.

 

The Indians young players could improve too, but I feel like adding Darvish plus the improved bullpen gets us closer than 15 out. Especially when they lost Santana, Jackson (good part time player) and Shaw. Those aren't huge losses but it makes a dent. Though I have zero clue if they lost significant time due to injury for any of their players so that would/could easily make up for the player losses from the offseason. And if our guys slump or don't improve on last year that will hurt too.

 

There's a number of factors involved but I could definitely see a scenario where the Twins are within 5-7 games of the Indians. They absolutely need to improve the rotation for that to be possible though.

I think we are in agreement. The Twins could narrow the gap, but I am skeptical they could overtake the Tribe this coming year.

[alskntwnsfn]

Lots of FAs still out there. Admittedly, I haven't been following things as closely as most winters, but nonetheless here's my late winter FA wish list (in no particular order, if some are done then it doesn't make sense to do others):

 

Jose Bautista

Francisco Liriano

Trade Rosario for pitching and sign JD Martinez

Jake Petricka (south Metro rep!)

Michael Saunders

Tony Watson

Jason Grilli

Clay Buchholz

Jake Arrieta (if the money is right)