The Twins Need to Shake Things Up with Two Obvious Changes

[Jeff K]

On 6/29/2023 at 10:22 AM, ValleySpringsFan said:

Royce Lewis commented recently about not waiting for pitchers to make a mistake, and being a little more aggressive instead. Very roundabout criticism of the hitting coach. I then wondered (and it's not practical, I know), what would happen if the Twins went without a hitting coach for a couple weeks? They're already on track to set a new strikeout record. What could go worse?

The Twins have a "not hitting" coach.  

[Larry Janisewski]

On 6/29/2023 at 11:01 AM, Loops said:

The problem is the Twin's basic philosophy on how to play. And maybe a good portion is the hitting coach. We are a "home run or bust" team. Which means a ton of strikeouts. If nobody gets on base it is hard to score runs. With the shift no longer allowed there are a lot of holes in the infield. Hard hit ground balls should be getting through. Our batting average, in fact all of MLB batting average, should be seeing an increase. Decent pitching is being wasted right now. Do I think we are an elite club? No. But we should be more competitive and that comes down to approach to the game.

i heard both Acuna and Brave's manager talk about having a plan for hitting is important and the reason the Brave's lineup up and down take much better at bats than the Twins. Kind of what Royce Lewis said last week. With the Twins lineup there is no way they should be on pace to break the strike out record. Got to start somewhere: Popkins has to go! Twins cannot strike out more than they already are even without him.

[Heinie Manush]

Having a plan at the plate… The Braves had one against Joe Ryan. Contrast that with Burton’s AB in the top half of the first.  2nd and 3rd with one out. Need to get at least one home.  He goes 0-2 seemingly with his by now familiar boom or bust approach. No indication of any adjustment based on game situation.   Now he did get the run home but that’s not the point.   

[KBJ1]

Hitting coach has to go. 

Who to replace him with?

How about someone who could actually hit for average, contact & power.

Molitor is still affiliated and he can teach players how to steal bases as well.

IDK if he'd take the job, but he's a no brainer choice!

[stringer bell]

Starting lineup is posted and both Kepler and Gallo are in there, as well as both Correa (leadoff!) and Buxton (3rd), so it appears no player transactions will happen. I guess we'll see if there is a better effort.

I don't want to say that the effort hasn't been there all year. It is hard to appear engaged when walking back to the dugout after a strikeout. I think there is a real need to adjust their approach. Tonight's starter for Baltimore averages less than a strikeout per inning--maybe the team should also strike out less than once per inning.

[Mike Sixel]

11 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Starting lineup is posted and both Kepler and Gallo are in there, as well as both Correa (leadoff!) and Buxton (3rd), so it appears no player transactions will happen. I guess we'll see if there is a better effort.

I don't want to say that the effort hasn't been there all year. It is hard to appear engaged when walking back to the dugout after a strikeout. I think there is a real need to adjust their approach. Tonight's starter for Baltimore averages less than a strikeout per inning--maybe the team should also strike out less than once per inning.

As predicted, the FO should be fired.

[Charleo]

On 6/29/2023 at 8:37 AM, Cory Engelhardt said:

I think if you are expecting Wallner to outperform Kepler, you will probably be disappointed. 

I mean, I'm expecting to win the powerball. That'll happen at some point, right?

 

(I'm NOT saying to not ditch Kepler. It's been time for a while now. I just don't see Wallner being this massive upgrade, or even an upgrade.)

You really don't think our Minor League Player of the Year x2 can outperform Kepler? In a small sample size, he proved he could.  Castro is outperforming Kepler.   What are we even talking about???   How is this even an argument at this point?

[John Belinski]

5 hours ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

I am not advocating for keeping Kepler. I'm not. I just don't know that I (or anyone) should expect Wallner to be a savior of this offense. That's all I'm getting at.

I am all for sending Kepler on his way (among other moves) but I also wouldn't expect Wallner to be a long term fixture in a corner spot here. That's all I'm getting at

Ok understand.

[RpR]

6 hours ago, Charleo said:

You really don't think our Minor League Player of the Year x2 can outperform Kepler? In a small sample size, he proved he could.  Castro is outperforming Kepler.   What are we even talking about???   How is this even an argument at this point?

In 14 years Kepler has 17 errors in RF.

In 6 years Wallner has 28 errors in RF

Wallner would be a huge detriment.

[dxpavelka]

OMG.  THIS TEAM IS TERRIBLE.  A GAME UNDER .500 ON JULY 1.  NO TEAM HAS EVER COME FROM SO FAR DOWN AND WON A WORLD SERIES.  NO TEAM HAS EVER OVERCAME A ONE GAME LEAD IN THEIR DIVISION ON JULY 1 TO WIN EITHER THEIR DIVISION, THEIR LEAGUE OR THE WORLD SERIES.  THIS TEAM IS TERRIBLE.  EVERY PLAYER ON THE ROSTER HAS UNDER PERFORMED THE EXPECTATIONS WE HAD FOR THEM COMING INTO THE SEASON.  THEY ALL MUST BE RELEASED OR TRADED IMMEDIATELY.  WE HAVE 26 GUYS IN THE MINORS WHO WOULD WIN THIS DIVISION BY A COUPLE DOZEN GAMES.  THE MANAGER, ALL THE COACHES AND THE ENTIRE FRONT OFFICE AND SCOUTING DEPARTMENT MUST BE FIRED IMMEDIATELY.  WOE IS US.  THE SKY IS FALLING.

[NotAboutWinning]

2 hours ago, dxpavelka said:

OMG.  THIS TEAM IS TERRIBLE.  A GAME UNDER .500 ON JULY 1.  NO TEAM HAS EVER COME FROM SO FAR DOWN AND WON A WORLD SERIES.  NO TEAM HAS EVER OVERCAME A ONE GAME LEAD IN THEIR DIVISION ON JULY 1 TO WIN EITHER THEIR DIVISION, THEIR LEAGUE OR THE WORLD SERIES.  THIS TEAM IS TERRIBLE.  EVERY PLAYER ON THE ROSTER HAS UNDER PERFORMED THE EXPECTATIONS WE HAD FOR THEM COMING INTO THE SEASON.  THEY ALL MUST BE RELEASED OR TRADED IMMEDIATELY.  WE HAVE 26 GUYS IN THE MINORS WHO WOULD WIN THIS DIVISION BY A COUPLE DOZEN GAMES.  THE MANAGER, ALL THE COACHES AND THE ENTIRE FRONT OFFICE AND SCOUTING DEPARTMENT MUST BE FIRED IMMEDIATELY.  WOE IS US.  THE SKY IS FALLING.

Please stop yelling... It makes my head hurt and scares the fish 😉

[dxpavelka]

36 minutes ago, NotAboutWinning said:

Please stop yelling... It makes my head hurt and scares the fish 😉

I CAN'T  DIDN'T YOU READ WHAT I WROTE?  BASICALLY ALL THE WORST PARTS OF THE BIBLE.  DOGS & CATS LIVING TOGETHER.  A HOLOCAUST OF MANKIND.  WE MAY INSTANTLY BECOME BLOOD & FLAMES.  GOD HAS GIVEN US MANY MORE REASONS TO KILL EACH OTHER THAN TO TURN THE OTHER CHEEK.  IF A NEW STRUCTURE IS TO RISE IT MUST BE BUILT FROM THE BOTTOM NOT ON TOP OF WHAT HAS COME BEFORE.  THE POETS WILL REST, THE SONNETS WILL BE SILENT, WORDS OF LOVE WILL NOT BE SPOKEN.  A STORM SHALL ROLL OVER US AND TAKE THOSE THAT ARE NOT PREPARED.  THE TOILET IS FULL.  DEATH RIDING A PALE HORSE.  SIX HUNDRED SIXTY-SIX MORTICIANS.  THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF.  HELP ME.  SCREAM FROM THE ROOFTOPS. 

[NotAboutWinning]

56 minutes ago, dxpavelka said:

I CAN'T  DIDN'T YOU READ WHAT I WROTE?  BASICALLY ALL THE WORST PARTS OF THE BIBLE.  DOGS & CATS LIVING TOGETHER.  A HOLOCAUST OF MANKIND.  WE MAY INSTANTLY BECOME BLOOD & FLAMES.  GOD HAS GIVEN US MANY MORE REASONS TO KILL EACH OTHER THAN TO TURN THE OTHER CHEEK.  IF A NEW STRUCTURE IS TO RISE IT MUST BE BUILT FROM THE BOTTOM NOT ON TOP OF WHAT HAS COME BEFORE.  THE POETS WILL REST, THE SONNETS WILL BE SILENT, WORDS OF LOVE WILL NOT BE SPOKEN.  A STORM SHALL ROLL OVER US AND TAKE THOSE THAT ARE NOT PREPARED.  THE TOILET IS FULL.  DEATH RIDING A PALE HORSE.  SIX HUNDRED SIXTY-SIX MORTICIANS.  THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF.  HELP ME.  SCREAM FROM THE ROOFTOPS. 

🫨😲🤯

[stringer bell]

I looked at June stats for both the Twins hitters and pitchers, in a losing month. Probably the most damning statistic was the strikeout disparity--275 for the hitters vs. 233 for the pitching staff. In the course of an entire month, things level out a bit. Surprisingly, Willi Castro only had a .555 OPS in June, worse than any of the usual suspects--Gallo, Kepler, Buxton or Correa--for the month. 

Just not outstanding production from the corner outfielders or first base. Of course, the guys with the big guaranteed contracts continued to underproduce. Yes, they can part with a Gallo or Kepler and probably get similar production from Wallner, but for real improvement for the rest of the year, Buxton and Correa need to be closer to the top of their game than the bottom.

The team ERA for June was just over 4 for the month, certainly not terrible. Ryan and Gray regressed to the mean and López continued his mediocre results despite better than that advanced metrics. The starters ate innings with the exception of Maeda and Varland. The bullpen was pretty good with the exception of Jorge López. If the Twins can continue to pitch with around a 4 ERA, it should be good enough to be above .500 for the next month.

Speaking of the next month, the schedule looks pretty .....soft with the exception of the Orioles. Baltimore is the only team that currently has a winning record on the Twins July schedule and the Twins play nine games against Oakland and KC.

[gil4]

On 6/29/2023 at 9:19 AM, OvertheHill said:

That Rosenthal piece wasn't scathing enough IMO but it's nice to know we aren't all taking crazy pills here

I had assumed someone here had slipped a few pills to Rosenthal.  

 

Edit to add: Scrolling through these comments, I think I identified a likely suspect.