Article: Week in Review: Down in the Dumps

[Mike Sixel]

I think people need to look at Sano and his stats again....

 

The do clearly miss ESan. And Polanco. But they should be better than this.

[Tom Froemming]

"WEDNESDAY, 5/2: BLUE JAYS @ TWINS – RHP Marcus Stroman v. RHP Phil Hughes"

 

Hughes!? Still? I don't understand how this can be a thing. At least every other Twins player who's struggling has experienced success in the not so distant past. 

 

The only place I feel comfortable with Hughes is in multi-inning mop-up duty. I know he's only pitched in two games so far this year, but it's been a very long time since he was even serviceable.

 

Aaron Slegers should be in the rotation, at least until Adalberto Mejia is healthy. Neither of those guys is a huge difference maker, but they'd certainly give the Twins more of a chance to win ballgames every fifth day.

 

Either way, Hughes' exit is inevitable. Are they going to keep rolling him out there after Ervin's back? Or once Gonsalves or Romero are ready to come up? I sure hope not. Just get it over with already.

[wsnydes]

 

The problem with thinking 2017 is repeatable is that you would have to hope that the Twins end up with the same cupcake schedule they did in the last half of 2017. That's not a certainty. The White Sox and their young roster may improve more than we think. History does repeat itself, but remember 2016 is also history. Chief is pretty spot on with my thoughts on the roster. While Molitor is hamstrung by some FO decisions, he is the one exposing EE, sitting Mauer, and hitting Kepler in the bottom of the order. A lot falls back on him. Lastly, LaMarre ain't no prize, but you cannot have RG wandering aimlessly around in RF with that arm, or lack thereof. It takes a LOT of walks to make up for that level of defense.

The other problem that makes thinking 2017 repeatable was the fact that they were essentially a mid 70s win team for 5 months of last season.  They had a great August, which put them into contention.  However for most of the season, the fact remained that they were very streaky and lost more than they won.  You'd hope that they could spread those extra 10 wins from August out over the course of the season.  That would be a sign of a team that improved because it would signify more consistency.  The only consistency that we've seen from this club so far has been that they've been consistently poor in pretty much every facet of the game.  

 

*Edit:  As Chief points out below, I'm pretty much completely wrong on this.     

Edited April 30, 2018 by wsnydes

[wsnydes]

 

"WEDNESDAY, 5/2: BLUE JAYS @ TWINS – RHP Marcus Stroman v. RHP Phil Hughes"

 

Hughes!? Still? I don't understand how this can be a thing. At least every other Twins player who's struggling has experienced success in the not so distant past. 

 

The only place I feel comfortable with Hughes is in multi-inning mop-up duty. I know he's only pitched in two games so far this year, but it's been a very long time since he was even serviceable.

 

Aaron Slegers should be in the rotation, at least until Adalberto Mejia is healthy. Neither of those guys is a huge difference maker, but they'd certainly give the Twins more of a chance to win ballgames every fifth day.

 

Either way, Hughes' exit is inevitable. Are they going to keep rolling him out there after Ervin's back? Or once Gonsalves or Romero are ready to come up? I sure hope not. Just get it over with already.

If I'm a player on this team and I'm told that I have to endure another Hughes start, I'd feel like the FO is slapping me in the face.  There are a lot of things wrong with this team, but this is one of those things where they actually have a few options.  

[USAFChief]

 

The other problem that makes thinking 2017 repeatable was the fact that they were essentially a mid 70s win team for 5 months of last season.  They had a great August, which put them into contention.  However for most of the season, the fact remained that they were very streaky and lost more than they won.  You'd hope that they could spread those extra 10 wins from August out over the course of the season.  That would be a sign of a team that improved because it would signify more consistency.  The only consistency that we've seen from this club so far has been that they've been consistently poor in pretty much every facet of the game.  

This isn't true.

 

The 2017 Twins went 12-11 in April, 14-12 in May, 20-10 in August, and 14-14 in September. 14-15 in June. The only bad month they had was July, 10-15.  

 

They also weren't a fluky one-run game team: 15-18 in one-run games. They finished two games ahead of their pythagorean record. 

 

They finished just about exactly where their play dictated they should. They were a little better than a .500 team throughout the season.

 

For the record I also don't agree their hot August was due entirely to who they played.

 

 

[wsnydes]

 

This isn't true.

 

The 2017 Twins went 12-11 in April, 14-12 in May, 20-10 in August, and 14-14 in September. 14-15 in June. The only bad month they had was July, 10-15.  

 

They also weren't a fluky one-run game team: 15-18 in one-run games. They finished two games ahead of their pythagorean record. 

 

They finished just about exactly where their play dictated they should. They were a little better than a .500 team throughout the season.

 

For the record I also don't agree their hot August was due entirely to who they played.

This is what I get from going from memory after looking at 2016 and 2017 results...you are correct.  I'm the idiot!  

 

I also agree with you about August.  They were playing some really good baseball and that spilled into September.  

[USAFChief]

 

This is what I get from going from memory after looking at 2016 and 2017 results...you are correct.  I'm the idiot!  

 

I also agree with you about August.  They were playing some really good baseball and that spilled into September.  

We're both idiots.

 

We're still here following this team.  

[wsnydes]

 

We're both idiots.

 

We're still here following this team.  

At least we're man enough to admit it!  

[jkcarew]

My goals for the season have shifted from playoffs to simply wanting to see as many of the younger guys as possible pull it together and show progress...including some promotions for the prospects.  Pretty much all of the young guys on the big club (except Kepler) have taken steps backward so far this season.  Not good.

 

Having said that...we're 3 1/2 games down with 139 to play.  Stranger things have happened.  Maybe Cleveland isn't going to be as good as we thought.  But first, we just need to see a month of decent to good baseball.

[David HK]

My first Twin season in memory was '65, as a goofy little kid. In the time it's taken to become a goofy old man, I've suffered through some truly horrendous seasons (dare I say decades?). This stretch reminds me of some of the bad old days. I don't think its going to last all season, but the hole is getting deep to climb to the playoffs this year.

You know how when a team gets on a roll, and every day a different hero steps up-- same goes for this stretch. A different dude chooses to suck at the most inopportune moment day after freakin' day....

Rrrrrrrrrr......

[KirbyDome89]

 

This isn't true.

 

The 2017 Twins went 12-11 in April, 14-12 in May, 20-10 in August, and 14-14 in September. 14-15 in June. The only bad month they had was July, 10-15.  

 

They also weren't a fluky one-run game team: 15-18 in one-run games. They finished two games ahead of their pythagorean record. 

 

They finished just about exactly where their play dictated they should. They were a little better than a .500 team throughout the season.

 

For the record I also don't agree their hot August was due entirely to who they played.

Mid 70s might be a stretch but apart from a 20 win August they're under .500 for year in 17'. If we ignore 16' for the moment, they needed 20 wins in May of 15' to hang around in the WC chase with 83 total Ws, and they needed 20 wins last August to claim the WC at 85 Ws. They don't have to apologize for those great months, and I absolutely agree that they don't have to give any wins back, but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't concerning that they've needed monster months each of those years to pull a team that hovered below .500 just above that line and into WC contention. 

 

It's a long year, and they can string a few decent/good months together and erase this early hole they've dug. To me, that's going to be the mark of improvement. I would agree with Wsnydes, 17' seems like a long shot to be repeated, simply because I'm not sure banking on a big winning streak is a good bet. 

[mazeville]

Everybody should step away from the ledge.

 

I'm as frustrated as everybody else. This is not what I expected. Not by a long shot. But it's only April 30.

 

On top of that, the Twins are without:

 

1. Byron Buxton. Is it a coincidence they've won just two games since he went on the DL?

 

2. Their top starting pitcher.

 

3. Their starting shortstop.

 

4. Miguel Sano. OK, he's been playing. But he was out the past couple of games and has been in a major funk since the start of the year.

 

Add to that major slumps by Logan Morrison and subpar performances by Lance Lynn, Zach Duke and the Fernando Rodney Experience and you have the recipe for the Twins' pathetic season.

 

They can recover. And if they don't, they have some pieces that could be traded at the deadline for some decent if not good prospects and they can try again next year (honestly, I'd trade Addison Reed in a hot minute).

[wsnydes]

 

Mid 70s might be a stretch but apart from a 20 win August they're under .500 for year in 17'. If we ignore 16' for the moment, they needed 20 wins in May of 15' to hang around in the WC chase with 83 total Ws, and they needed 20 wins last August to claim the WC at 85 Ws. They don't have to apologize for those great months, and I absolutely agree that they don't have to give any wins back, but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't concerning that they've needed monster months each of those years to pull a team that hovered below .500 just above that line and into WC contention. 

 

It's a long year, and they can string a few decent/good months together and erase this early hole they've dug. To me, that's going to be the mark of improvement. I would agree with Wsnydes, 17' seems like a long shot to be repeated, simply because I'm not sure banking on a big winning streak is a good bet. 

Thank you for articulating my point better than I did...and with accurate information!

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

But it's only April 30.

 

On top of that, the Twins are without:

 

1. Byron Buxton. Is it a coincidence they've won just two games since he went on the DL?

 

2. Their top starting pitcher.

 

3. Their starting shortstop.

But those 3 things aren't going to be fixed for at least another month or two, which sort of invalidates the "it's only April 30" reassurance...

[tarheeltwinsfan]

 

Can't love this post enough.

The one thing I can find to disagree with is overpaying for a 4th outfielder.
Unless they can fix other problems quickly, that seems like a waste of assets.

I agree with Mr. Brooks post 100%. The Chief was right on 99%. Excellent post by The Chief.

[kusko_andy]

The Twins are next-to-last in baseball with a team ERA of 5.26.

 

The pitching has been a disaster, much as it has been since 2010, which was the last season where the Twins had an ERA better than the league average. 

 

Until we see real improvement throughout the starting rotation and bullpen, we will continue to suck. 

[Mr. Brooks]

The Twins are next-to-last in baseball with a team ERA of 5.26.

 

The pitching has been a disaster, much as it has been since 2010, which was the last season where the Twins had an ERA better than the league average.

 

Until we see real improvement throughout the starting rotation and bullpen, we will continue to suck.

I agree. And many posters here were less than impressed with the offseason pitching additions, and thought oour pitching would still be bad.

Sure, we came into the year with probably more talent than most previous years, but we all know there is more to sports than just a raw measurement of talent. And every pitcher on the roster, except maybe Reed, entered the season with significant question marks.

Edited April 30, 2018 by Mr. Brooks

[mazeville]

 

But those 3 things aren't going to be fixed for at least another month or two, which sort of invalidates the "it's only April 30" reassurance...

 

No. It doesn't. 

 

It means that once Buxton comes back and Santana comes back the team should be better. Sano will eventually break out of his slump and, well, can't do anything about Polanco. 

 

Do I think they make the playoffs? Probably not. But nor am I going to freak out on April 30. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

No. It doesn't.

 

It means that once Buxton comes back and Santana comes back the team should be better. Sano will eventually break out of his slump and, well, can't do anything about Polanco.

 

Do I think they make the playoffs? Probably not. But nor am I going to freak out on April 30.

You do realize those guys (Buxton, Santana, Polanco) aren't coming back for at least a month or two, right?

 

I mean, I'm not freaking out or writing off the season or anything. But we're not turning anything around with the help of Buxton, Santana, or Polanco until May 30, at least. Hence why "it's only April 30" and "Buxton, Santana, and Polanco will return" are somewhat imcompatible reassurances.

Edited April 30, 2018 by spycake

[Mr. Brooks]

You do realize those guys (Buxton, Santana, Polanco) aren't coming back for at least a month or two, right?

 

I mean, I'm not freaking out or writing off the season or anything. But we're not turning anything around with the help of Buxton, Santana, or Polanco until May 30, at least. Hence why "it's only April 30" and "Buxton, Santana, and Polanco will return" are somewhat imcompatible reassurances.

My uneducated guess is that Buxton returns well before then.

A broken toe can be played through as it heals, if the pain can be managed. At least that's what I've heard in the past.

I hope Heezy chimes in at some point with an educated opinion.

[USAFChief]

 

You do realize those guys (Buxton, Santana, Polanco) aren't coming back for at least a month or two, right?

I mean, I'm not freaking out or writing off the season or anything. But we're not turning anything around with the help of Buxton, Santana, or Polanco until May 30, at least. Hence why "it's only April 30" and "Buxton, Santana, and Polanco will return" are somewhat imcompatible reassurances.

Do we know that about Buxton? 

[Otto von Ballpark]

My uneducated guess is that Buxton returns well before then.

A broken toe can be played through as it heals, if the pain can be managed. At least that's what I've heard in the past.

I hope Heezy chimes in at some point with an educated opinion.

Well, I don't have a lot of confidence in Buxton turning our season around while he is playing through that pain either.