Between Mourning and Looking Ahead, Appreciate 2023

[Greggory Masterson]

It's over. But take time to appreciate it for what it was when you're ready.

Image courtesy of Jordan Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Maybe you're the crying type. Maybe you're the angry type. Maybe you're the type to bury it and not admit it hurts. But it does. You wouldn't be reading this if you didn't care about your Minnesota Twins.

Whatever emotions you want to engage with, engage with them. Whatever complaints you have about the end of the season—whether it's with the manager, the hitters, the pitchers, the front office, the umpires, or TC Bear (he knows what he did)—let them be heard.

The end comes at least one game too early for 29 teams, and it came for your Minnesota Twins.

I won't tell you how to mourn this season or how long it should affect you. Pardon my French, Edouard Julien, but it sucks.

When you're ready to start looking forward to next year, we'll be here for that. You'll have plenty of opportunity to read about next year's potential. Free agent targets, projections, trade candidates, philosophic waxing, and everything in between will fill the front page. Hope springs eternal.

There's so much to be excited about next year. Nearly all of the pieces of the 2023 team are already penciled in for 2024. The top-flight rotation and bullpen may see minimal turnover. It's easy to dream on the promising starts to the careers of rookies Royce Lewis, Edouard Julien, and Matt Wallner. Carlos Correa's foot will hopefully be healed and ready for Opening Day. An offseason will help Byron Buxton. Top prospects like Brooks Lee and Austin Martin are ready to join the mix.

But that's not today.

No one will blame you for looking ahead to next year. There's a lot of reason to believe that the 2024 team can be better than this year's team as young players take the next steps and season-long injuries can heal. However, we need to appreciate what we just watched.

Coming into the year, very few analysts, experts, or pundits picked Minnesota to win the Central. There was more steam behind them securing the third seed in the worst division in baseball than there was that they would get a playoff berth. Yet here they stand.

The Twins had a pitching staff that competed for the best in the game, besting any Minnesota squad from the past three decades, at minimum. Two pitchers—Sonny Gray and Pablo López—will likely rank in the top eight in Cy Young voting in the American League. We got to watch that.

A trio of rookies—Lewis, Julien, and Wallner—injected so much energy into this organization. Although our instincts tell us they will only improve, it's not guaranteed. Frankly, this could be the best season that any of them ever have. They may play at this level for most of their careers. We don't know what the future holds for them.

We do know how they made us feel this year, though.

What happens next year, or in the years down the road, doesn't change the fun that it was for this team. After back-to-back-to-back division championships between 2002 and 2004, expectations were great. Surely 2005 would be the year they take the next step and get back into a deep playoff run.

We know how that ended.

An incredible core of young and controllable talent led the 2016 Cubs to the Promised Land for the first time in 108 years. Surely a young team like that could contend for the World Series for a decade.

It's been seven years, they've won one playoff game since, and the core is completely disbanded.

This isn't an attempt to put a damper on your dreams. It's a call to appreciate what you watched this season.

Sure. This team struck out way more than anyone would like. We all pulled our hair out watching called strike threes on middle-middle fastballs. The offense was positively anemic for half the year, and once they got themselves figured out, the stellar pitching's wheels began to wobble.

Inexplicable injuries seemed to pile up, and no timetables were ever clear. The two most highly-paid players were dragged down by season-long, nagging injuries.

But this team won the division. But fans got to watch meaningful October baseball. But those in attendance got to revitalize and call up the ghosts of the crowd that used to inhabit the Hubert. H. Humphrey Metrodome.

But this was the team that broke the streak.

No longer will it be brought up on national broadcasts that the Twins had lost their previous 18 playoff games. No one will talk about 2004 again.

This was the team that made it happen.

From breaking the longest playoff losing streak in North American professional sports history to the individual moments of joy watching the Max Kepler resurgence or a Jorge Polanco professional plate appearance. This team provided joy.

Appreciate it before turning the page to next year.

Appreciate the energy of Kyle Farmer, the emergence of Ryan Jeffers, the chaos of Willi Castro, the random bombs from Michael A. Taylor and Joey Gallo, and the barrels into the gap of Donovan Solano.

Appreciate an entire bullpen throwing gas, Jhoan Durán and Caleb Thielbar's elite curveballs, Brock Stewart's comeback story, Emilio Pagán's redemption arc, the Dallas Keuchel experience, the late-season moves to the pen of Louie Varland and Chris Paddack, and one of (if not the) best starting rotations in Twins history: Gray, López, Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, Kenta Maeda, Varland, Tyler Mahle, Keuchel, and José De León.

Appreciate how this season made you feel, and the fun you had along the way, before looking into who should get a qualifying offer.

Thank you, everyone, for this season—especially those of you who work at 1 Twins Way.

View full article

[LA Vikes Fan]

Excellent piece. Thank you. 

[snellman]

Very well written.  Am I disappointed, yes. But I am more disappointed that the season is over. It was a fun season to watch baseball.  It will be interesting to see the direction this team goes because the pieces are all there if they can continue the arc.

[Puckett34]

I've had to remind myself to remember how last Tuesday felt.  The jubilation, the tears, the relief I (we all) felt should never be forgotten.

 

Am I disappointed in the result? Yes.  Especially given this pitching staff.  Felt that part of the team had what it took to do more.

 

I will also admit that I was cursing Rocco taking Ryan out last night, I was wrong.  That worked to perfection (aside from a Theilbar mistake).  If only they could've gotten a hit when needed.

[jmlease1]

It was a fun team to watch this season. Never felt like they didn't have a chance going into any game the whole year, which is definitely a new feeling. 

If there's disappointment, it's because they increased expectations through their own performance. It's because after the Pablo Lopez Game you could see the path forward and how they could win the series...and then it went south. If you don't care, you can't be disappointed, and this team made people care.

Lot of new and fun players on this team. lot of guys who absolutely will be back next year as key contributors: Lopez, Julien, Lewis, Wallner, Castro should all be around. Ober, Varland, Jax, and Jeffers all stepped up. there's a lot of upside for this team, and potential to improve. 

Sometimes you get a good team that's not very fun (the Jimmy Butler T-Wolves come to mind), but this was a group that was super easy to root for. Farmer, Polanco, Kepler with a resurgent season, bulldog Sonny Gray, and electric super lightning Duran! Lot of good dudes that really seemed to enjoy playing together. Fun to imagine what happens if better health reigns for Correa and Buxton (and Miranda, and Kirilloff, and Alcala...)

[Logi_Clevs]

"or TC Bear (he knows what he did)"

Not sure I can move on until we get an official statement and apology from him. Truly inexplicable. 

On a serious note, I was in attendance last Wednesday when the won the Wild Card. That moment on Duran's final pitch is something I will never forget.

At minimum, this team rekindled the fire and passion for Twins baseball. I have multiple friends and family who in the past wouldn't pay much attention to the Twins other than checking the previous game score every morning - now they were actively talking about the games and watching the games with me. No matter what happens in the coming years, the 2023 Twins have rekindled something inside me and those around me. 

[Vanimal46]

Lots of ups and downs over 162 games. Early on in the season I did not enjoy watching the team. The offense was struggling to score more than 4 runs a game, and the strikeouts were piling up. It pains me to say this, but the team became more enjoyable to watch for me when Buxton was shut down, and the 3 rookies got their extended run of play time.

The Twins were trending up at the end of the season, which is a welcomed sight after the previous teams crashed and burned in the final stretch of the season. 

[Patzky]

This team made me remember just how much the mid 80s teams made me cringe and the late 80s made me cheer.  Once again it's not only acceptable to be a Twins fan but now we just need to find room on the bandwagon!

Seriously not only did the team bring optimism and happiness but a good chunk of it will be back next year and the next. I'm sorry it all ended but can't wait for the off-season to see what's coming! (Really hope there's room for the role players we came to know and love like Farmer, Taylor, deLeon, Solano.) Is a Pablo/Ryan/Paddack/EdwinJackson or Corbin Burnes/Ober rotation too much to ask for? 

(I have a feeling Tigers fans are about three years behind us on this trajectory.)

[dberthia]

Houston was the better team, but there's no reason we can't be at that level next postseason. We have a great foundation to build on. In the postseason, I'd concentrate on:

• Dumping Kepler and replace with guys already in the system
• Dumping Popkins
• Dumping Polanco and replacing with Julien at 2nd.
• Acquire a center fielder who can hit
• Figure out how to let Buxton go and maybe collect insurance on his contract? The guy is washed IMHO.
• Get Paddack ready to start again, assuming we lose Sonny
• Not sure about Kiriloff. He really needs to stay healthy and produce. We need a full-time power guy at 1st who can hit 40 HRs

[Rod Carews Birthday]

Fantastic article. I think we are all disappointed today, but as that wears off it's pretty easy to see that this was a really fun baseball season.  Last time I was this excited for the future Justin Morneau was a rookie!

As we move ahead, there will be surprises both positive and negative.  A few players will really develop and others may inexplicably stall, but the foundation for winning baseball would seem to be firmly established.  I hope that the front office can make some quality additions to the roster over the winter and all of the injured players heal and get ready for spring training. 

Next year, I want to be that team whose season doesn't end with a loss.  Unfortunately, it would appear that there are a bunch of other teams that will try to win as well.  Go Twins!

[Road trip]

Good article, good summary of the season.  Hard as it is this morning, it was a better than expected year.

I didn't believe the Twins would make the playoffs in March.  I was wrong.

I doubted the Twins would hang on to win the division in July.  I was wrong.

I hoped but doubted that the Twins would beat the Blue Jays in round 1.  I was very wrong.

I hoped a little but kinda suspected and feared Houston would sweep the Twins.  But I was wrong.

Then I got sucked in, and believed after Lopez beat the Astros in game 2.  I thought, going back home, with Gray on the mound for game 3, and Lopez available for game 5?  The Twins have a pretty good chance to advance.  I believed.

Damn it.  They got me again.

[RocRedWing]

1 hour ago, snellman said:

Very well written.  Am I disappointed, yes. But I am more disappointed that the season is over. It was a fun season to watch baseball.  It will be interesting to see the direction this team goes because the pieces are all there if they can continue the arc.

exactly my feeling. The season was such a ride that I hate that it's over!

[snellman]

2 minutes ago, RocRedWing said:

exactly my feeling. The season was such a ride that I hate that it's over!

I feel the same way with this team as I did after the 09 Vikings season with Favre.  I was disappointed that they lost, but I was more disappointed that I could no longer watch that team because it was so fun to watch.  

This team with the bulldog mentality of Gray and watching the younger players grow was fun to watch.  Unlike some years in the past, you always thought this team had a chance to win the game, no matter the opponent.  The good thing is that most of these players should return next year.

And let me also say that I was pessimistic with the rule changes, but it truly did improve the watchability of games in general. I haven't watched as many baseball games overall in a long time as I did this summer and that is because they were more watchable.

[mikelink45]

My only concern going in to next year - at this time - is Kiriloff and his too frequent injuries.  We need to figure it out and make sure we do not have Gallo as his replacement.  

Otherwise the off season as it usually is will be filled with surprises, frustrations and expectations. 

[Oldgoat_MN]

There are always some who insist that the season was a failure if you don't win the World Series. I'm not one of them.

We went 3-3 in the playoffs. I think this was an important step. Good things are potentially afoot.

Fun season. Go Twins!

[umterp23]

What is not to like except the playoff outcome, I get that part.  Julien, Wallner, Lewis getting an opportunity, capitalizing on such moments and securing a place for the immediate future.  Those 3 will always look to improve, adjust and battle to be better and the team better.  Excited to see their next step.

Jeffers behind the dish and at the plate was a really nice improvement.  He made a batting stance change and metrics across the board moved north not south.  Always room for improvement but I think we have a solid guy in the position.  Vazquez and his contract suffocates the payroll a bit but he is here to stay unless they find a trade partner.  

Buxton is the wild card.  Will he ever be healthy?  Don't think so, hope I'm wrong.  

Castro, Taylor, Farmer, Solano filled their roles and enjoyed their mature approach to being a contributor when needed.  Not sure we have room for all of them next year though.  

Pitching what can you say.  Thought it was going to be a real struggle but the guys found their way.  Depth is there, could always use more but Lopez is legit along with others.  

Next year 4 months till guys report for Spring Training.  Looking forward to it already

[minman1982]

My dream in March was to have the Twins get to the playoffs and win a playoff game. They won a playoff series and could have won a series against the Astros if a few more things went their way. I was not really sad about the way the season ended. This team hung in there against one of the best organizations of the last decade and made it competitive (only Game 3 was a true blowout). They were a couple of mistake pitches in Game 1 and a couple of timely hits in Game 4 away from winning this series. That's baseball and 29 fan bases are left waiting for next year when it is all said and done.

Now on to the next task, building on what they accomplished this season. Can they keep Sonny Gray? Can they add a couple of bats and maybe another reliever? What to do with Byron Buxton? Can they trade someone like Polanco or Kepler? Can they count on Lewis and Julien? Lots of questions need answers before Spring Training. Looking at the rest of the division, it seems like the AL Central is certainly winnable again next season. How do the Twins get better going into next year?

[Beast]

I find it hard to be excited about an 87 win season, in which we may not have even made the playoffs had the division housed another competent baseball team.

I find hard to be content with merely ending the the most incompetent run of playoff losses in the history of sports.  If they had put up a fight against the Astros, there may be a moral victory I could glean.  But, collectively grabbing their throats and collecting 6 hits, 30 Ks, and 3 runs in 18 innings in front of a home crowd…..making  Javier and Urquidy look like perennial Cy Young contenders…..that’s absolutely pathetic and embarrassing.  I’ve never been more disgusted watching baseball.  I’ve never seen professional athletes fold that readily.  Completely spineless.  The series was over before it started.  Couldn’t muster even the weakest contact in big situation.  Flailing strikeout after flailing strikeout.  And we were offended that nobody in Houston or nationally took this team seriously.

The playoffs put a lot of things into perspective for me:

This lineup is putrid.  I don’t care what they did in the regular season.  We have 3 guys I care to watch swing a bat ever again:  Lewis, Correa, Julien.  Ship everyone else out of here.

This was an overrated pitching staff.  Lopez, Jax, and Duran were great.  Houston basically had their way with everybody else, including Gray.

It’s depressing that our baseline as Twins fans is so rock bottom, that we’re celebrating this.  If this was an acceptable season to you as a fan, more power to you.  I demand more.  We’re almost a decade into this regime.  Figure something out or fire these guys.  If we ever want to get somewhere, we have to quit accepting mediocrity, let alone being excited about it and making lists of the moral victories.

[Puckett34]

17 minutes ago, Beast said:

I find it hard to be excited about an 87 win season, in which we may not have even made the playoffs had the division housed another competent baseball team.

I find hard to be content with merely ending the the most incompetent run of playoff losses in the history of sports.  If they had put up a fight against the Astros, there may be a moral victory I could glean.  But, collectively grabbing their throats and collecting 6 hits, 30 Ks, and 3 runs in 18 innings in front of a home crowd…..making  Javier and Urquidy look like perennial Cy Young contenders…..that’s absolutely pathetic and embarrassing.  I’ve never been more disgusted watching baseball.  I’ve never seen professional athletes fold that readily.  Completely spineless.  The series was over before it started.  Couldn’t muster even the weakest contact in big situation.  Flailing strikeout after flailing strikeout.  And we were offended that nobody in Houston or nationally took this team seriously.

The playoffs put a lot of things into perspective for me:

This lineup is putrid.  I don’t care what they did in the regular season.  We have 3 guys I care to watch swing a bat ever again:  Lewis, Correa, Julien.  Ship everyone else out of here.

This was an overrated pitching staff.  Lopez, Jax, and Duran were great.  Houston basically had their way with everybody else, including Gray.

It’s depressing that our baseline as Twins fans is so rock bottom, that we’re celebrating this.  If this was an acceptable season to you as a fan, more power to you.  I demand more.  We’re almost a decade into this regime.  Figure something out or fire these guys.  If we ever want to get somewhere, we have to quit accepting mediocrity, let alone being excited about it and making lists of the moral victories.

My man, most of the post I see of yours are of this tone.  If you feel so negative about this team/organization, why are you here?  And why yuck on someone else's yum when they found some success in the postseason.  Only one team wins the final game of the season.

I'm not trying to come after you, but damn man.

Surely you can find joy somewhere. Maybe meat smoking or world war two trivia?

[wsnydes]

26 minutes ago, Beast said:

I find it hard to be excited about an 87 win season, in which we may not have even made the playoffs had the division housed another competent baseball team.

I find hard to be content with merely ending the the most incompetent run of playoff losses in the history of sports.  If they had put up a fight against the Astros, there may be a moral victory I could glean.  But, collectively grabbing their throats and collecting 6 hits, 30 Ks, and 3 runs in 18 innings in front of a home crowd…..making  Javier and Urquidy look like perennial Cy Young contenders…..that’s absolutely pathetic and embarrassing.  I’ve never been more disgusted watching baseball.  I’ve never seen professional athletes fold that readily.  Completely spineless.  The series was over before it started.  Couldn’t muster even the weakest contact in big situation.  Flailing strikeout after flailing strikeout.  And we were offended that nobody in Houston or nationally took this team seriously.

The playoffs put a lot of things into perspective for me:

This lineup is putrid.  I don’t care what they did in the regular season.  We have 3 guys I care to watch swing a bat ever again:  Lewis, Correa, Julien.  Ship everyone else out of here.

This was an overrated pitching staff.  Lopez, Jax, and Duran were great.  Houston basically had their way with everybody else, including Gray.

It’s depressing that our baseline as Twins fans is so rock bottom, that we’re celebrating this.  If this was an acceptable season to you as a fan, more power to you.  I demand more.  We’re almost a decade into this regime.  Figure something out or fire these guys.  If we ever want to get somewhere, we have to quit accepting mediocrity, let alone being excited about it and making lists of the moral victories.

Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?

Hate to wonder how you'd feel if they finished below .500 and missed the playoffs.

[wabene]

I became a Vikings fan in the 70's. What a great team and what amazing seasons and entertainment they gave me. I'll never forget. They lost the last game in the playoffs every year they made it. Yep, what a great team! 

[wabene]

2 minutes ago, wsnydes said:

Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?

Hate to wonder how you'd feel if they finished below .500 and missed the playoffs.

Vindicated? 

[roger]

Great read, thanks.

Agree with most of the comments.  Have one question, why do you mention Martin as someone who is ready to contribute?  The Martin I saw playing for the Saints hasn’t proven to me he should be a starter in St Paul, and certainly not for the Twins.

[Parfigliano]

Won the division and a playoff series.  Didnt get embarrassed in series that knocked them out of playoffs.  Its a good year.

[RpR]

Interesting season; it reminds me of the 1969-1970 teams which were the last of a truly great decade but died in the new post season format.

  From 1971-1979 had 4 winning seasons but then they seemed to go pffft in last months.

 

Will next year be a stronger more cohesive team or a revolving door for players not as good as expected.

Next spring will be very, very interesting to see who stays , who goes and what gents walk on the field the first day of the season.

[Greggory Masterson]

45 minutes ago, Beast said:

I find it hard to be excited about an 87 win season, in which we may not have even made the playoffs had the division housed another competent baseball team.

I find hard to be content with merely ending the the most incompetent run of playoff losses in the history of sports.  If they had put up a fight against the Astros, there may be a moral victory I could glean.  But, collectively grabbing their throats and collecting 6 hits, 30 Ks, and 3 runs in 18 innings in front of a home crowd…..making  Javier and Urquidy look like perennial Cy Young contenders…..that’s absolutely pathetic and embarrassing.  I’ve never been more disgusted watching baseball.  I’ve never seen professional athletes fold that readily.  Completely spineless.  The series was over before it started.  Couldn’t muster even the weakest contact in big situation.  Flailing strikeout after flailing strikeout.  And we were offended that nobody in Houston or nationally took this team seriously.

The playoffs put a lot of things into perspective for me:

This lineup is putrid.  I don’t care what they did in the regular season.  We have 3 guys I care to watch swing a bat ever again:  Lewis, Correa, Julien.  Ship everyone else out of here.

This was an overrated pitching staff.  Lopez, Jax, and Duran were great.  Houston basically had their way with everybody else, including Gray.

It’s depressing that our baseline as Twins fans is so rock bottom, that we’re celebrating this.  If this was an acceptable season to you as a fan, more power to you.  I demand more.  We’re almost a decade into this regime.  Figure something out or fire these guys.  If we ever want to get somewhere, we have to quit accepting mediocrity, let alone being excited about it and making lists of the moral victories.

I didn't write this to memorialize some world-beating, all-time great team. I want fans to take a moment and appreciate the highs and lows of the season before immediately pivoting into looking ahead. The Twins were overmatched in this series and didn't execute. But there was a lot of fun watching them between March and October.

If you're not satisfied with the outcome, more power to you. I wouldn't put myself in the satisfied camp, either. But we watch baseball because we love the game and we love watching our favorite team. If you wait all season for the outcome of the postseason to decide whether it was time well spent, you're going to spend a lot of your life deciding that you hated your hobby post hoc.

This season was fun. Not perfect, but fun. It's not worth screwing ourselves up in knots to will the team to victory when we have no power to change anything. There is no "demanding more." It's frankly unhealthy to put stock in trying to affect outcomes you can't control. If you can't enjoy a season for what it is, I don't know why you're watching in the first place. I'm not satisfied in the outcome, but I took pleasure in watching a competitive team. You don't know what will happen next year.

[Greggory Masterson]

24 minutes ago, roger said:

Great read, thanks.

Agree with most of the comments.  Have one question, why do you mention Martin as someone who is ready to contribute?  The Martin I saw playing for the Saints hasn’t proven to me he should be a starter in St Paul, and certainly not for the Twins.

I'm not staking a claim in Martin being ready (or Brooks Lee, to be frank, but that's neither here nor there); I was just using that as a potential point of optimism that fans may be fast-forwarding to instead of appreciating the here and now.

[Hubie29]

1 hour ago, Beast said:

I find it hard to be excited about an 87 win season, in which we may not have even made the playoffs had the division housed another competent baseball team.

I find hard to be content with merely ending the the most incompetent run of playoff losses in the history of sports.  If they had put up a fight against the Astros, there may be a moral victory I could glean.  But, collectively grabbing their throats and collecting 6 hits, 30 Ks, and 3 runs in 18 innings in front of a home crowd…..making  Javier and Urquidy look like perennial Cy Young contenders…..that’s absolutely pathetic and embarrassing.  I’ve never been more disgusted watching baseball.  I’ve never seen professional athletes fold that readily.  Completely spineless.  The series was over before it started.  Couldn’t muster even the weakest contact in big situation.  Flailing strikeout after flailing strikeout.  And we were offended that nobody in Houston or nationally took this team seriously.

The playoffs put a lot of things into perspective for me:

This lineup is putrid.  I don’t care what they did in the regular season.  We have 3 guys I care to watch swing a bat ever again:  Lewis, Correa, Julien.  Ship everyone else out of here.

This was an overrated pitching staff.  Lopez, Jax, and Duran were great.  Houston basically had their way with everybody else, including Gray.

It’s depressing that our baseline as Twins fans is so rock bottom, that we’re celebrating this.  If this was an acceptable season to you as a fan, more power to you.  I demand more.  We’re almost a decade into this regime.  Figure something out or fire these guys.  If we ever want to get somewhere, we have to quit accepting mediocrity, let alone being excited about it and making lists of the moral victories.

Love the honesty and accuracy. Kudos to you for telling it like it is. Your analysis is why many old timers and die hard baseball fans like myself,  (62 yrs old) have turned so apathetic towards this organization. Same old same old.

[Hubie29]

Proof will be in the pudding next year boys. Save Beasts rant for next year. We will see if thumbs down is warranted or not. 

[USNMCPO]

Like every Twins fan I am disappointed in the final outcome. They had a chance, but it was to no avail. Personally, I enjoyed the season, particularly the second half. Strikeouts killed them. Pitching was very good. Overall bottom line is the team exceeded my expectations and I can't be upset about that. I think the core is in place to do even better next year.