A Letter To The Twins FO And Ownership

[DocBauer]

To all concerned,

 

We are living in uncertain times as a society right now, that's a given. And with all that is taking place right now, perhaps anyone reaching out with any sort of thought or plea regarding a sports franchise would seem superfluous in such times. Yet, I write.

 

I write because life must go on, and indeed, it does carry on regardless. And such things as sports is an ingrained and relatively important part of our society and culture. Who I am individually is not really pertinent save to say I am a sports fan and an avid Twins fan through ups and downs for nearly 50yrs of my life. I am a Midwesterner born and raised and fit probably, financially speaking, as middle to maybe lower-middle class in our world as it is now. I can't and won't pretend what it might be like to be in charge of a multi-million/billion franchise. But intelligence and practicality doesn't have a price tag.

 

Not a one of us fans out here in tbe public world has a true grasp on the ultimate, bottom line numbers of expenses and profit and loss of owning a franchise such as the Twins. And loss is definitely a key word after the 2020 season and how it relates to MLB in general and the Twins specifically. To be frank, despite all of us debating such things as payroll, contracts, a player's financial worth and the such, we get lost in abstract details. Very few of us can even comprehend the earnings of a ML rookie, much less the multi-million dollar earnings of an established player. I think very few of us truly ever begrudge a player trying to earn as much money as they can.

 

For myself, I simply can't look at an owner of any business, much less a sports franchise, and loudly proclaim it is my right as a fan to demand you lay out as much as you can monetarily to make myself and hundreds of thousands of fans "happy". From a mom and pop shop to a sports franchise, how could this make any business sense?

 

But I WOULD argue that owning a public entertainment business, such as a sports team, does have a different weight. Ownership wise, there is nothing wrong with wanting to earn profit from said franchise. But I think we all are wise enough to know and understand that those who own such an industry also don't rely on that investment as a sole income. So there is where the rub comes.

 

As owners and FO, you have made significant changes over the past few years to rebuild the Twins organization from the top on down. You have done so with investments in infrastructure and intelligent moves personnel wise. You have spent unprecedented financially while still being intelligent and even frugal...never just blowing the lid off. I commend you for the changes that have taken place.

 

YOU, FO and ownership, are at a strange precipice I'm sure you never saw coming. Unlike many franchises, you have done "right" thus far by paying your milb players and not dismissing employees in droves. Again, I applaud you. But where do we go from here?

 

Jim Pohlad had a recent interview concerning the state of MLB. I found his comments to be open, honest and succinct. I'm not sure how other owners, or agents or players received them, but I think he was spot on as to the current situation taking place. What I found to be interesting and revealing were his comments that...paraphrasing here...2020 was what it was and is done, and the Twins organization is not looking to recoup any sort of financial losses in regard to 2021 and beyond.

 

And so, at length...some would say FINALLY...this brings us to the crux of my letter to you all. There is a universal opinion, rightly so, that there will be some sort of financial cutback across MLB post covid 2020 and with unanswered questions concerning 2021. There has been some rather wild speculation that a depressed and possibly saturated market of possible FA players available an organization could pounce on opportunity to "buy" contention and a possible title. I think we're all intelligent enough to know this is a fallacy and fool's errand. But I WOULD argue that opportunity DOES present itself.

 

In anything approaching normalcy this current off-season, a top and contending team like the Twins would AT LEAST expect a status quo payroll wise, if not a bump. Even in 2019 and '20, the Twins payroll was just under the ML mean. One might easily expect something like a 10% bump in payroll for 2021 for a contending team.

 

I don't ask you to bump payroll in these strange and uncertain times. I'm not even asking you to not cut payroll. But I AM asking you to look at the BIG PICTURE of your franchise. Were you to keep payroll the same, or slightly lower...say a 5% cut...trusting in your talent and intelligent FO, I wonder if the potential dividends wouldn't ultimately pay large dividends.

 

Regards to you all.

[TopGunn#22]

Great points, as always Doc.  Not much more I could add.  Thanks for contributing good stuff.

[tony&rodney]

2020 is ending and hope returns in 2021. The future is bright. My own idea is to aim high: the World Series. Why not? Last November I argued for the Twins to sign Donaldson and my only reason was-why not, Jd makes the Twins better. 2020 happened and JD was only ok and that was a disappointment. Well, that was in 2020. Next February the Twins will gather again, as Minnesotans get sick of being indoors, dry, and cold. There will be pent up energy gathered in a positive manner for a summer of good weather and baseball. In the spirit of the post. I too want a look at the potential of this team and how to maximize the possible opportunity to pull everything out of that talent. I agree that it isn't our baby; we don't get to make the cuts or increase the payroll with our choices. Still, when you have a window and a great view, it is a time to grasp the present. The dire years of the mid 70s and 90s and 2000 early teens are a scary alternative. Neither the owners nor fans win in those futile years. So the job is to look directly at what is needed and how best to make it happen this offseason. What do we need? One SP, one (maybe 2) reliever, a reserve for the infield, and a decision on the DH. So, in actuality not too bad but still plenty; both. Let the debate be about Bauer or Kluber and Odorizzi or Stroman; Hendriks and Soria or May; Simmons or Profar; and don't forget a place for Kirilloff, Larnach, Rooker, Jeffers, Duran, Alcala, Colina, and maybe Lewis and Blankenhorn. Whatever the decision, let the management decisions be made for a purpose. The money is there. Spend only to make the team better, but either way The Twins must make the team more positioned to win in 2021. 

[IndianaTwin]

I think you’ve captured it well, Doc.

 

For most of us mortals, it’s hard for us to think of anything but recouping our losses when we hit a tough spot. And there will probably be certain teams who justifiably take that approach. It’s defensible.

 

But you’re right — the opportunity is there for smart teams to zig and spend money (or maintain budget) when others zag and tighten up. And perhaps because I’m the eternal optimist, I see the Pohlads as owners who may well be willing to take that approach. This summer, for example, much was made of their charitable contributions in response to the George Floyd incident. They seemed to take their role as a corporate citizen seriously. FDR pushed baseball to continue playing during WW2 because the country needed. I could see the Pohlads taking the same approach on behalf of the MSP community, particularly when they consider that the return generated by a championship could turn it into a wise investment.

 

I know this isn’t a “should we keep Eddie” discussion, but I think the approach you’re suggesting may give a rationale for keeping him. Yes, Kirilloff and Rooker are options, but neither has much AAA time, and keeping Eddie makes it easier to save the service time on them. Additionally, few teams ever get through the season without an outfielder getting hurt. So start the season with Rosario/Buxton/Kepler as the outfield and plan to call up whichever one is playing better when one of the starters get hurt. And if they don’t get hurt and one or the other (or both) is kicking down the door, that’s a great problem to have.

[rdehring]

Very interesting, Doc.

 

And I join you in commending the Twins on their stated position that they are not looking to recover the losses of 2020. But that doesn't mean they won't, and shouldn't be looking at significant cuts for 2021.

 

I have stated here previously that I could foresee substantial cuts should it continue to appear that fans either will not be allowed for games or be allowed in limited numbers. And nothing has happened over the last five months (COVID is getting worse in Minnesota) that would change playing under the same health guidelines as this past summer. 

 

Part of that problem could be alleviated should the players agree to some type of adjustment to reflect the loss of those dollars. Unfortunately, that will be a battle that might effect the length of the 2021 season and likelihood of having a 2022 season. A battle the owners seem to be playing the losing side of. 

[The Wise One]

25% of the people who reach the major leagues have one year or less of baseball income from MLB. 40% less than 2. A fair number of players are hurt by the players must give back mentality. The last mlb team to go of business was about a century ago. They always find a way, even in the 1918 pandemic they didn't go bankrupt.

[DocBauer]

Very interesting, Doc.

 

And I join you in commending the Twins on their stated position that they are not looking to recover the losses of 2020. But that doesn't mean they won't, and shouldn't be looking at significant cuts for 2021.

 

I have stated here previously that I could foresee substantial cuts should it continue to appear that fans either will not be allowed for games or be allowed in limited numbers. And nothing has happened over the last five months (COVID is getting worse in Minnesota) that would change playing under the same health guidelines as this past summer. 

 

Part of that problem could be alleviated should the players agree to some type of adjustment to reflect the loss of those dollars. Unfortunately, that will be a battle that might effect the length of the 2021 season and likelihood of having a 2022 season. A battle the owners seem to be playing the losing side of.

 

I always appreciate your comments and perspective. Always smart and well thought out. My only disagreement/caveat with the last part of your post is the players have already agreed, grudgingly, to "contributing" to "losses" in 2020 due to a short season. And 2021 WILL HAPPEN, presumably, with a great deal of unknowns at this time.

 

I think you are ABSOLUTELY right to consider 2022 to be a mystery. And while I can place a certain amount of blame on ownership to opening books and negotiating honestly for the future...why in the world can't both sides just look at everything that is taking place and just be adult and benifical for both sides as other sports seem to...my OP was just about recognizing the best scenario for the franchise.

 

Maybe it was his money. Maybe it was his personality. But Carl was well respected amongst ML ownership. It seems to me Jim has been largely silent or under the radar at least. But ever since Falvey and Levine were brought on board, and through covid and social issues, it seems Jim has stepped forward. Maybe he wanted to, and maybe he didn't want to. But he and the family have done so. And I expect no miracles as a Twins fan. I only ask perspective for what they have and what they have been building. I don't ask for crazy financial numbers. I only ask for reasonable numbers for their investment...an EGO investment to be sure, Carl LOVED the Twins...to continue to keep their investment as viable.

[rdehring]

 

I always appreciate your comments and perspective. Always smart and well thought out. My only disagreement/caveat with the last part of your post is the players have already agreed, grudgingly, to "contributing" to "losses" in 2020 due to a short season. And 2021 WILL HAPPEN, presumably, with a great deal of unknowns at this time.

I think you are ABSOLUTELY right to consider 2022 to be a mystery. And while I can place a certain amount of blame on ownership to opening books and negotiating honestly for the future...why in the world can't both sides just look at everything that is taking place and just be adult and benifical for both sides as other sports seem to...my OP was just about recognizing the best scenario for the franchise.

Maybe it was his money. Maybe it was his personality. But Carl was well respected amongst ML ownership. It seems to me Jim has been largely silent or under the radar at least. But ever since Falvey and Levine were brought on board, and through covid and social issues, it seems Jim has stepped forward. Maybe he wanted to, and maybe he didn't want to. But he and the family have done so. And I expect no miracles as a Twins fan. I only ask perspective for what they have and what they have been building. I don't ask for crazy financial numbers. I only ask for reasonable numbers for their investment...an EGO investment to be sure, Carl LOVED the Twins...to continue to keep their investment as viable.

How quickly the world changes, Doc.

 

Although we still don't know the final results or timetable for people getting the Pfizer vaccine, today's announcement sure makes it more likely that there both will be a 2021 season and that it could be closer to normal than we thought on Friday. Together with the 60 minutes piece last night about the Military being in charge of getting these vaccines out to the public. Couldn't believe how impressive that 4-star general was discussing all aspects of the project to get the vaccine out throughout our country.

 

Although not a baseball topic, seriously wondered what Tuesday's results would have been had the 60-minutes piece run last Sunday and Pfizer made this announcement last Monday?

 

Let's cross our fingers, Doc, that in 60 or 90 days the world (and baseball world) will be getting back to normal.