Going forward, what moves do you think will happen?

[Richie the Rally Goat]

You may want to check those slugging percentage numbers again. Unless you're comparing them to Escobar's past years and not Dozier like I'm thinking.

 

The Escobar Kool-Aid is strong. We'll see if he can keep it up. I'm more confused by some thinking Dozier is old goods.

you are right, Dozier out slugged Esco last year .498 to Esco’s .449.

[TheLeviathan]

You may want to check those slugging percentage numbers again. Unless you're comparing them to Escobar's past years and not Dozier like I'm thinking.

The Escobar Kool-Aid is strong. We'll see if he can keep it up. I'm more confused by some thinking Dozier is old goods.

He isn't old goods now, but you seem to be saying he has 3-5 equivalent years in him. That would greatly defy a large data set of trends.

[Vanimal46]

He isn't old goods now, but you seem to be saying he has 3-5 equivalent years in him. That would greatly defy a large data set of trends.

We've been talking about the next 3 years throughout this thread. And yes, he has 3 good years left in him. Maybe even 1 of those years he's great a la 2016.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Dossier is not a player I'd bet on for aging gracefully with production.

I don't know how "needed" he will be, but as far as investments go he is a ridiculously dangerous one IMO.

I'm a pretty solid Dozier guy and even I'll say that I'm not sure any team in MLB will want, much less need, him in 3-4 seasons.

[USAFChief]

 

Agree. The Sano hate is ridiculous. I think since Buxton's not around to throw stones at, fans turn to Sano as the punching bag. He's a monster in the middle of a good lineup and is an extremely valuable member of this team.

 

Put him on any team in the majors right now, and he bats 4th and plays every day.

No.

[TheLeviathan]

We've been talking about the next 3 years throughout this thread. And yes, he has 3 good years left in him. Maybe even 1 of those years he's great a la 2016.

In three years when you wonder how you could be so intoxicated to post this idea and still retain enough motor functions to type, I will gladly let you buy me a beer so we can still be friends Van.

[Mike Sixel]

In three years when you wonder how you could be so intoxicated to post this idea and still retain enough motor functions to type, I will gladly let you buy me a beer so we can still be friends Van.

Wait. Some of you are friends? Dang.

[alarp33]

 

We've been talking about the next 3 years throughout this thread. And yes, he has 3 good years left in him. Maybe even 1 of those years he's great a la 2016.

 

To be fair you said there will "absolutely be a need for him in 3 years".  Not that he will maybe have a great year in one of those 3.  

[Vanimal46]

In three years when you wonder how you could be so intoxicated to post this idea and still retain enough motor functions to type, I will gladly let you buy me a beer so we can still be friends Van.

You're on! At this time I'm #Devoted2Doz and not ready to let him go after this season...

 

Falvine needs to make it rain on someone this offseason and he may be our best bet.

[Vanimal46]

To be fair you said there will "absolutely be a need for him in 3 years". Not that he will maybe have a great year in one of those 3.

I consider a good year to be 2-4 WAR and great 5+. Dozier at the bitter end of 34 years old still will be that kind of player. Top 10 2B for sure.

[howeda7]

This offense is still so bad with Dozier, Sano and Kepler struggling. Get Carter up here and either release Grossman or give Kepler some AAA time. And get Gordon up here for Petite. Mauer's not coming back anytime soon. Wade would be nice as well. We can't keep grinding with this lineup. 

[TheLeviathan]

This offense is still so bad with Dozier, Sano and Kepler struggling. Get Carter up here and either release Grossman or give Kepler some AAA time. And get Gordon up here for Petite. Mauer's not coming back anytime soon. Wade would be nice as well. We can't keep grinding with this lineup.

 

Sending Max Kepler down is just a terrible idea.

[yarnivek1972]

IMO, there is no upside in sending any of the core down to AAA. The Twins are going to sink or swim with Kepler, Rosario, Buxton, Sano and Polanco. The Twins need to find out how they perform against MLB pitching now.

[diehardtwinsfan]

IMO, there is no upside in sending any of the core down to AAA. The Twins are going to sink or swim with Kepler, Rosario, Buxton, Sano and Polanco. The Twins need to find out how they perform against MLB pitching now.

I'm not sure I completely agree with this. Buxton in particular would be a good case for a nice long option. Sano would be another one on the bubble, though his hitting has been better of late.

 

Kepler is not having a bad year. His BA is a bit low, but he's hitting lefties and showing improvement. I don't think he should be sent down.

[yarnivek1972]

What is the upside of sending Sano or Buxton down?

 

Isn't it already a given that they can hit AAA pitching?

 

How does that help them hit MLB pitching?

 

These two have well over 1000 MLB PA. It's time for them to put up or shut up at the MLB level.

 

 

The scary reality facing the organization is that this is who they are: Injury prone, strike out prone, lacking plate discipline.

 

None of that improves with a stint against inferior AAA pitching. Maybe if they continue to struggle at the MLB level it will sink in that they do need to improve so they don't continue to embarrass themselves.

[Doomtints]

 

How does Castro help in 2018? I thought you said we were contenders right now.

 

I did say we are contenders now.

 

I also agree that Castro is terrible.

 

Nevertheless, Castro is the star catcher everyone wanted. No one consulted me on his signing.  

 

Can you say in all honesty that any team would be likely to grab Realmuto if they were in the situation the Twins are in? Granted this new management team has done a couple of surprises, but realistically do you think they would do this? They are "all in" on Castro. He's not playing this year, but the Twins still want him to be the guy.

The Realmuto thing is all hot air.

[alarp33]

 

I did say we are contenders now.

 

I also agree that Castro is terrible.

 

Nevertheless, Castro is the star catcher everyone wanted. No one consulted me on his signing.  

 

Can you say in all honesty that any team would be likely to grab Realmuto if they were in the situation the Twins are in? Granted this new management team has done a couple of surprises, but realistically do you think they would do this? They are "all in" on Castro. He's not playing this year, but the Twins still want him to be the guy.

The Realmuto thing is all hot air.

 

The Twins have 1 year and $8 million remaining on Castro after this season (in which he isn't a factor).  But they are "all in" and they "still want him to be the guy".  Yeah I don't think that's the case. 

 

Also "Castro is the star catcher everyone wanted".  Who is everyone?  I didn't mind the signing at all, but I can't recall prior to your post "Castro" and "Star catcher" ever being used in the same sentence

[USAFChief]

 

I did say we are contenders now.

 

I also agree that Castro is terrible.

 

Nevertheless, Castro is the star catcher everyone wanted. No one consulted me on his signing.  

 

Can you say in all honesty that any team would be likely to grab Realmuto if they were in the situation the Twins are in? Granted this new management team has done a couple of surprises, but realistically do you think they would do this? They are "all in" on Castro. He's not playing this year, but the Twins still want him to be the guy.

The Realmuto thing is all hot air.

If their primary catcher is injured,

and terrible when healthy,

with no catching help anywhere in sight,

on a team that is a contender now...

you don't think there are teams that would try to improve their catching?

 

That doesn't seem logical to me.

 

 

[Major League Ready]

 

If their primary catcher is injured,

and terrible when healthy,

with no catching help anywhere in sight,

on a team that is a contender now...

you don't think there are teams that would try to improve their catching?

 

That doesn't seem logical to me.

 

How is this team a contender now?  We are contending for a playoff spot in a terrible division.  We are under 500 and there are 3 extremely dominant teams.  How is this team a contender against NY, Boston, and Houston?

 

Don't expect this FO to be expending any valuable prospects this year unless the team improves significantly before the deadline.

[Tomj14]

ESPN has an article out possible trades for starting pitchers.

deGrom, Syndergaard, Bumgarner and Corbin are really the only ones that interest me and if they are truly available the Twins need to go real hard after one of them.

 

[USAFChief]

 

How is this team a contender now?  We are contending for a playoff spot in a terrible division.  We are under 500 and there are 3 extremely dominant teams.  How is this team a contender against NY, Boston, and Houston?

 

Don't expect this FO to be expending any valuable prospects this year unless the team improves significantly before the deadline.

You should ask the poster I was quoting.

[ChrisKnutson]

Realmuto would be ideal for me, but at this point the FO is playing with fire by not doing anything (other than signing Cameron Rupp). This lack of urgency is only allowing Cleveland to distance themselves from us, this team needs reinforcements.

[ashbury]

I'm sorry to say that Jason Castro doesn't factor into my plans for 2019 at all. It's unlikely in my view that he's ever a viable MLB catcher again, much less to say in 2019, much less a viable backup, much less a viable starter. It's a devastating injury and I wish our guy the best; but if the FO is making moves this season with a view that Castro is back as our starter next season, it's dereliction of duty. I'm fine with a rental for 2018, but then something more will be necessary in the off-season, making Realmuto by far the preferred option now if only the price weren't so darned high.

[Major League Ready]

 

You should ask the poster I was quoting.

 

Sorry, I used your quote but it was directed toward all of the posters who were approaching this as if we are a contender.  I should have asked why you or anyone else would accept the premise we are a contender. The poster above is worried about Cleveland.  So what if we win the division of the entire team does not improve significantly. The wolves earned a playoff spot.  So what when you have a mediocre team. It always possible to win a given series but or chances against NY, Boston or Houston are not good.

 

We simply need to see if this team can get it together by the deadline. Right now we look much more like sellers than buyers. If we don't improve dramatically, we  should get Gordon up here to play with Polanco for the 2nd half of the season and see if that is our future. Get Gonsalves up and a couple of bullpen arms from AAA.  I would find that more interesting than a 500 team that happens to be in contention for a playoff series because the division is terribly weak. 

[Vanimal46]

Sorry, I used your quote but it was directed toward all of the posters who were approaching this as if we are a contender. I should have asked why you or anyone else would accept the premise we are a contender. The poster above is worried about Cleveland. So what if we win the division of the entire team does not improve significantly. The wolves earned a playoff spot. So what when you have a mediocre team. It always possible to win a given series but or chances against NY, Boston or Houston are not good.

 

We simply need to see if this team can get it together by the deadline. Right now we look much more like sellers than buyers. If we don't improve dramatically, we should get Gordon up here to play with Polanco for the 2nd half of the season and see if that is our future. Get Gonsalves up and a couple of bullpen arms from AAA. I would find that more interesting than a 500 team that happens to be in contention for a playoff series because the division is terribly weak.

I see them as a contender this year with a couple of tweaks. I understand your point that they may just be a mediocre team that won't fare well in the playoffs. Just because it doesn't look good on paper means they should give up? I don't agree with that.

 

Did you ever think the Twins were contenders from 2001-2010? Because the situation this year feels pretty similar. Take advantage of a terrible division and see if they can steal a series.

 

The reason I want to contend now is because every year contention is pushed off is another year for Chicago and Detroit to reload.

[Major League Ready]

 

I see them as a contender this year with a couple of tweaks. I understand your point that they may just be a mediocre team that won't fare well in the playoffs. Just because it doesn't look good on paper means they should give up? I don't agree with that.

Did you ever think the Twins were contenders from 2001-2010? Because the situation this year feels pretty similar. Take advantage of a terrible division and see if they can steal a series.

The reason I want to contend now is because every year contention is pushed off is another year for Chicago and Detroit to reload.

 

I am not sure what you mean by "doesn't looks good on paper".  If we compare Offense, Defense, SP, and Bullpen, NY, Boston, and Houston all are simply much better teams. You will have to explain specifically where we have a competitive advantage in any aspect of the game when compared to these teams.

[Vanimal46]

I am not sure what you mean by "doesn't looks good on paper". If we compare Offense, Defense, SP, and Bullpen, NY, Boston, and Houston all are simply much better teams. You will have to explain specifically where we have a competitive advantage in any aspect of the game when compared to these teams.

Baseball isn't played on paper. The Twins are better than the White Sox in all of those categories as well. Weirdly enough, they beat the Twins every now and again.

[nicksaviking]

 

Baseball isn't played on paper. The Twins are better than the White Sox in all of those categories as well. Weirdly enough, they beat the Twins every now and again.

 

Wouldn't that make the White Sox a contender than too?

 

I wouldn't argue that the Twins are absolutely a lost cause this year, but I think they are a contender only by the most dubious standards. I'll start taking them seriously again once they make the playoffs with a game in their home ballpark and they aren't a clear underdog.

[Vanimal46]

Wouldn't that make the White Sox a contender than too?

 

I wouldn't argue that the Twins are absolutely a lost cause this year, but I think they are a contender only by the most dubious standards. I'll start taking them seriously again once they make the playoffs with a game in their home ballpark and they aren't a clear underdog.

I just don't accept the thought "we don't look as good as NY, BOS, HOU right now... why even try?" It's a loser's mentality.

[Major League Ready]

 

Baseball isn't played on paper. The Twins are better than the White Sox in all of those categories as well. Weirdly enough, they beat the Twins every now and again.

 

OK.  Let's just put this in the most possible of neutral terms.  How do odds makers see the Twins versus the teams I mentioned. These are the odds of winning the American League pennant.

 

Houston 11/4

NY 3/1

Boston  7/2

Twins 25/1

 

In other words the other teams are roughly 8X more likely to go to the world series. Any reasonable assessment of their odds is that the odds are significantly against them. Any other interpretation is homerism in my opinion. I gave you an opening to make a meaningful argument. In what areas are the Twins equivalent to NY, Boston, and Houston? You can just argue that any team can get hot. While true, that's a very empty premise, especially in terms of how to manage assets.