Week in Review: Coming Undone

[Nick Nelson]

The continually undermanned Twins have entered a free fall, unraveling at the seams as they try to hold onto the final wild-card spot and limp into the postseason. 

The frustration was palpable in an ugly 2-5 week that leaves Minnesota closer to missing the playoffs than winning the division.

Image courtesy of Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Weekly Snapshot: Mon, 9/2 through Sun, 9/8
***
Record Last Week: 2-5 (Overall: 76-67)
Run Differential Last Week: -13 (Overall: +38)
Standing: 3rd Place in AL Central (5.5 GB) 

Game 137 | MN 5, TB 4: Key Hits and Clutch Relief Lift Twins
Game 138 | TB 2, MIN 1: Bats Unable to Awaken Against Springs
Game 139 | TB 9, MIN 4: Varland Implodes, Defense Flops
Game 140 | MIN 4, TB 3: Lopez Leads the Way to Salvage Split
Game 141 | KC 5, MIN 0: Twins Go Quietly in Opener at Kauffman
Game 142 | KC 4, MIN 2: Bullpen Blows Up, Ober's Gem Wasted
Game 143 | KC 2, MIN 0: Embarrassing Sweep Ends with Shutout 

IF YOU'D RATHER LISTEN TO THE WEEK IN REVIEW THAN READ IT, YOU CAN NOW FIND IT IN PODCAST FORM. GET THE LATEST EPISODE HERE. ALSO AVAILABLE ON APPLE AND SPOTIFY.

NEWS & NOTES

It's all hands on deck for the injury-ravaged Minnesota Twins, who now find themselves just 3 ½ games in front of Seattle for the final playoff position. Last week Max Kepler joined Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa on the injured list, with DaShawn Keirsey Jr. called up to try and help fill the growing veteran void in the lineup. Michael Helman had been promoted from Triple-A days earlier, bringing into the fold two players with zero major-league experience in the heat of a postseason race.

Correa remains sidelined indefinitely, and Buxton's return is now very much in question after he experienced a setback while rehabbing from his hip injury in St. Paul on Wednesday. Kepler's timeline is unclear, but he's been dealing with this knee issue for the entire season. If the Twins aren't confident he can give them more than he has over the past couple of months, then there's no real point in bringing him back. It would be a sad end for the franchise's longest-tenured player.

Louie Varland was recalled to serve as bulk pitcher in Wednesday's game against Tampa Bay, with Diego Castillo optioned to the minors. Varland got through two perfect innings against the Rays before falling apart in his third, where he allowed eight runs while recording one out. With that, the inevitable became official: On Friday, the Twins announced Varland will be formally transitioning to a bullpen role. 

 

HIGHLIGHTS

If the Twins are able to hang on and reach the playoffs, they've got the makings of a formidable short-series rotation. Pablo López and Bailey Ober delivered strong outings in their latest turns and both went deep, which the team is counting on them to do in support of a depleted bullpen. López struck out nine over 6 ⅔ innings in a win over Tampa on Thursday, and Ober hurled seven shutout frames against Kansas City on Saturday to slay his Royals demons. 

Since the halfway point of June, Ober and López rank eighth and 12th respectively among qualified MLB pitchers in ERA. That's what you want in your 1-2 starters.

Meanwhile, David Festa is quickly solidifying his standing as third in line for any potential postseason scenario, missing bats at a fantastic rate while continuing to showcase surprisingly sharp command. Facing Tampa on Tuesday, the rookie fanned seven with only one walk over five frames of two-run ball, leaving his ERA at 3.13 in 37 ⅓ innings since his latest call-up after the All-Star break. 

Unfortunately, this trio of starting pitchers essentially represented the extent of positives in what was – all things considered – probably the worst week of the season for the Twins.

LOWLIGHTS

The Twins lineup isn't producing enough to win games. Plain and simple. There are many other contributing culprits you can point toward in this ongoing backslide to submediocrity – ill-timed meltdowns from pitchers, questionable managerial decisions, consistently poor defensive play – but the lack of run-scoring overshadows it all. 

 

They are without their two best hitters and the Twins are just going to need to get used to it. In all likelihood, Correa and Buxton aren't coming back, at least not until the very end of the season. Kepler is also probably down for the year. 

In the absence of these lineup cornerstones, the Twins need the rest of their key bats to step up. That's been a recurring call to action that is perpetually not being answered. 

Slumping Royce Lewis is at the forefront of the team's struggles. Without his spark the Twins seem completely bereft of energy or life. He went 4-for-25 (.160) with seven strikeouts and has homered just once – barely – in his past 24 games after going deep 15 times in his first 40. Lewis looks less like a hitter who's going through a standard slump and more like a guy who is physically depleted and grinding. He has more or less admitted as much. That makes it difficult to trust there's significant improvement on the way unless he can somehow find a second wind. 

You wonder how much physical wear-and-tear has also taken a toll on Willi Castro, who's known to have battled back troubles this year, and has seen his production plummet in the second half. He went 1-for-18 with seven strikeouts last week, and since the All-Star break is batting just .206 with 11 extra-base hits in 45 games.

In the same category as these two (unproductive, possibly unhealthy) you've got Brooks Lee, who came back after missing time with a shoulder injury but looks much the same as he did before going down: punchless at the plate. Lee went 3-for-21 with no walks, and he had some rough rookie moments in the field at shortstop.

I mean, that's just a lot to withstand. No Correa, no Buxton, no Kepler. Lewis, Castro and Lee all offering next to nothing at the plate. Even with the occasional flashes from guys like Matt Wallner, Trevor Larnach and even Edouard Julien, the lineup isn't going to function with so many of its core fixtures either literally or figuratively absent. As more at-bats start getting directed to the likes of Helman and Keirsey, the Twins will be at risk of a fully fledged 2022-style collapse unless their remaining hitting talent can step up.

Overall, this team is in a miserable state. The defense has been utterly atrocious, in terms of both execution and decision-making. This is costing a pitching staff that's already stretched and lurching. Tommy Watkins has been repeatedly making inexcusably bad calls as third-base coach, windmilling slow runners to the plate and costing an offense that's already stretched. On top of that, the Twins have just been horribly unlucky, with low-quality contact leading to runs for the opposition in key spots over and over again. 

You add this litany of compounding factors on top of the challenging circumstances this team already faces, and you've got the recipe for an all-out free fall. We're seeing it. 

By virtue of their stellar mid-summer run, and the widespread mediocrity in the middle of the American League pack, the Twins are still highly likely to reach the playoffs. But this is not a group that currently inspires any confidence as a legitimate contender. They're shrinking as the weight of the moment continues to grow.

TRENDING STORYLINE

Where do we go from here? Will there be a shakeup of some kind in the wake of this pitiful series in Kansas City? Uncontained frustration was the theme of the week for the Twins, and understandably so. Buxton got ejected from a minor-league game for barking at an ump on Wednesday. Around the same time, Varland exploded with screaming rage on the mound as his starting career likely reached an end.

When met by reporters following Sunday's lifeless loss, Rocco Baldelli declined to take questions or offer comment other than: "That was an unprofessional series of baseball we played and that’s all I’ve got for you.” He reportedly held a team meeting afterward.

 

There are three weeks and 19 games remaining on the schedule. The math is still in favor of the Twins, who miraculously maintain an 87% chance of making the postseason according to FanGraphs. But those playoff odds don't mean squat if they can't win some ballgames and hold their ground. If this team keeps playing the way they have, they are very much at risk of getting passed.

You wonder if some sort of significant last-ditch gambit to disrupt the stuffy status quo might be in play. I'm not sure what that would look like, although an Emmanuel Rodriguez promotion has been thrown out there as one far-flung possibility. (He's in Triple-A and on the 40-man roster.)

Everything should be on the table. You can't take for granted when you get a real shot at October, and while the Twins are far from the shape they hoped they be in at this stage of the game, they still very much have that shot. The front office and coaching staff should be aiming to do anything and everything in their power to avoid the catastrophic scenario where they miss out.

LOOKING AHEAD

This is a get-right week if I've ever seen one. The Twins return to Target Field for a six-game home stand against sub-.500 teams, starting with three against an Angels club with the fourth-worst record in baseball. The off day on Thursday will be very welcomed – Minnesota's first break in two weeks. 

It is imperative that the team get on track and fatten up a bit in these two series, because afterward looms the most critical gauntlet in the remaining schedule: a seven-game road trip through Cleveland and Boston.

MONDAY, SEPT 9: ANGELS @ TWINS – LHP Reid Detmers v. RHP David Festa
TUESDAY, SEPT 10: ANGELS @ TWINS – RHP Griffin Canning v. RHP Pablo Lopez
WEDNESDAY, SEPT 11: ANGELS @ TWINS – RHP Jack Kochanowicz v. RHP Zebby Matthews
FRIDAY, SEPT 13: REDS @ TWINS – TBD v. RHP Bailey Ober
SATURDAY, SEPT 14: REDS @ TWINS – RHP Nick Martinez v. RHP Simeon Woods Richardson
SUNDAY, SEPT 15: REDS @ TWINS – RHP Rhett Lowder v. RHP David Festa

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[David Maro]

SWR looked good for 4 innings today,then walked into trouble again.This has been his bug a boo all year.With the bats going silent they have little chance of getting into the playoffs.Now the Tigers are in position to take the last spot and they deserve it over the Twins.It maybe time to move to the Vikings,because this team has run out of time.

[Peter]

Well said!!! Hopefully Rocco tore them a new one and with huge homestand coming this is the perfect time to get on winning streak!!! Next week will be critical as its do or die!!! Corea and buxton must get back!! We need them big time!!! With all the fire Rocco BS give home credit for keeping us in the wild card division race!!! We can still win division but the main thing just make it to the playoffs-I’m not giving up on our twins!!! No way!!! 

[mikelink45]

It is so sad that we are so close and yet so many of us are also discouraged. This should be the time when hope rises and our quest for the full season should be inspiring. But it's not. Your review was too accurate.  

[Whitey333]

I'm not really giving up either but I am close.  The only reason the Twins may make the playoffs is Cleveland and Boston are playing as poorly as the Twins.  The Twins have been playing with no heart or spank for over a month.  Losing is bad enough but it's much worse when nobody including our manager seems to care.  I think this week while Twins are playing the 28 games below .500 Angels the Royals go to play the Yankees.  A real chance to make up some ground.  But I don't have much confidence they will do it.  

[Rod Carews Birthday]

There is much to agree with in this article.  The rotation, except for some bad timing, has been better than expected.  But between the bullpen implosions from usually reliable sources and the lack of any sustained offensive production it's pretty hard to win games.  In the bullpen, there aren't really any solutions to be had other than "pitch better".  As for the offense, the Twins are just out of rounds in their chamber.  Santana seems out of gas at 1B, 2B is all over the place, SS is a rookie who looks a little overmatched, 3B is a good player in a major slump, and CF is . . . well. . . we don't really have one right now.  But hey!  We're OK in the corners and the catching tandem is pretty good!  It's going to be tough to get back in control of this thing.  Somebody (perhaps unexpected) needs to get really hot and carry this team.  I surely don't know who that could be. 

[chpettit19]

I'd like to see them give the kids some chances this week. What do they have to lose? Give Lewis and Castro a day or 2 or 3, and play Martin, Keirsey, and Wallner across the outfield. Play Miranda, Lee, Julien, and Santana across the infield. DH Larnach. What's the worst that happens? They score 2 total runs in 3 games while being shutout twice? That's already happening. I guess they have a lefty going against them tomorrow so put Helman at 2B or RF and DH Wallner or Julien. 

I know the plan was for Farmer, Castro, and Lewis to be part of the answer to getting you to the playoffs, but that plan is crashing and burning. DFA Farmer and call up Emma or Severino or Eeles or whoever. See if some youth with their careers on the line can provide a spark and get you a couple Ws. The vets aren't doing it. Don't go down with the vet ship just because it was the plan in April. It's September. Give the kids with energy some run. Maybe sitting the Angels series gets Lewis and Castro back on track. What's the worst that can happen?

[Western SD Fan]

Great article as usual. I need to take my share of the blame on posting on this forum to demand we bring up the kids and get rid of Farmer and Margot. Not that any one of importance in the organization actually reads these comments. Now that the kids are up, we have put them in a terrible position to perform in the middle of a playoff chase where the margins have gotten very thin. I got roasted for asking why we didn’t claim Tommy Pham even though we were ahead in the waiver order at the time. His slash line since joining the Royals: .320/.520/.840/129+ per baseball reference. I’d take that week of games right now. Plus I believe it was reported on Saturday’s game that he was excited to get released and try to get picked up by a contending team. Again, a hungry veteran to inspire the kids would be helpful here. I was asked where he would play. DH or outfield. Castro/Kiersey/Helman can play center and Lewis needs a day off to collect his thoughts. Our best news is that we still have 6 games with the Angels and Marlins so we still control our fate, which is all we can ask for at this time of the season.

[RpR]

22 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

I'd like to see them give the kids some chances this week. What do they have to lose?

Making the Postseason.

[chpettit19]

1 minute ago, RpR said:

Making the Postseason.

Because your precious vets are leading them there right now? The vets are the ones failing. But I know we'll never agree here so let's just move on.

[tony&rodney]

Great picture - where we see Santana trying to explain to the youngins that September is a good month to play baseball while the other three are just tired, not used to the grind of the MLB season. 

[Aerodeliria]

I think that playing the young players is not such a bad idea, but the most important thing is to keep folks in the same place on the field for more than one game at a time and have some semblance of a consistent lineup. This musical chairs approach has cost the Twins time and time again. What position am I playing tonight? SS, 3rd, 2nd, left field? Where am I hitting? 1st, 3rd, 7th, 9th? From a mental standpoint, this constant shuffling is not conducive to success IMHO...

[OvertheHill]

I won’t pretend that I know everything in the job description of a Major League 3rd base coach, but I’d guess being able to judge the capabilities of your own players to run the bases is up there. I get that it’s not the biggest thing, and we’re only talking about it because everything is in the table now, but it’s indicative IMO of how this organization has devalued the “traditional “ parts of the game that old timers like me pay to see. 

[bean5302]

I don't see the Twins as particularly injury ravaged. Buxton typically only plays 80 games a year. His availability is normal, even a little better than normal this year. Correa's loss has hurt and so has Ryan's but compared to MLB teams in general, the Twins' injury woes aren't atypical at all from what I can see.

This team is just playing sloppy baseball. Baldelli's moves have often been perplexing, but the way the team is playing reflects the convergence of many problems created by the front office in general.
1. Failure to address team needs this past offseason.
2. Failure to find creative solutions to needs at the deadline, obviously hampered severely by the ownership, but this is a chicken or egg type of question as well.
3. Philosophies which seem to ignore real world complexity in favor of absolute faith in limited data, like the anybody can play any defensive position approach with very limited experience or the pinch hitting platoon concept.

[Lasorda_This_Out]

Great article Nick!

After today's scintillating  Minnesota Vikings win...maybe time for TD members to turn The Leaf?

Go Vikings!!!

I vote: Merciful Fork in the Minnesota Twins Turkey?

All in Favor: Thumbs Up!

Pohlad/St. Peter's et.al. need to take a hard look at the direction of this Franchise in 2025 and going forward?

Commit to excellence or consider selling?

 

[David HK]

Chin up, chaps!  And thank you White Sox for downing those evil bean-eaters from Bean-town!

*(Narrator:  The team could feel tiger breath on their collective necks, as well as salt spray from Puget Sound.)

Don't forget, we have by far and away the best winning % against sub-.500 teams!   🤓👍

*(Narrator:  As anyone knows, not many sub-.500 teams make the playoffs)

[David HK]

3 hours ago, Western SD Fan said:

Great article as usual. I need to take my share of the blame on posting on this forum to demand we bring up the kids and get rid of Farmer and Margot. Not that any one of importance in the organization actually reads these comments. Now that the kids are up, we have put them in a terrible position to perform in the middle of a playoff chase where the margins have gotten very thin. I got roasted for asking why we didn’t claim Tommy Pham even though we were ahead in the waiver order at the time. His slash line since joining the Royals: .320/.520/.840/129+ per baseball reference. I’d take that week of games right now. Plus I believe it was reported on Saturday’s game that he was excited to get released and try to get picked up by a contending team. Again, a hungry veteran to inspire the kids would be helpful here. I was asked where he would play. DH or outfield. Castro/Kiersey/Helman can play center and Lewis needs a day off to collect his thoughts. Our best news is that we still have 6 games with the Angels and Marlins so we still control our fate, which is all we can ask for at this time of the season.

I wanted Tommy Pham WAY more than Margot at the beginning of this mess.  And now we had TWO chances to sign him, and passed wind instead.

[Wizard11]

4 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

I'd like to see them give the kids some chances this week. What do they have to lose? Give Lewis and Castro a day or 2 or 3, and play Martin, Keirsey, and Wallner across the outfield. Play Miranda, Lee, Julien, and Santana across the infield. DH Larnach. What's the worst that happens? They score 2 total runs in 3 games while being shutout twice? That's already happening. I guess they have a lefty going against them tomorrow so put Helman at 2B or RF and DH Wallner or Julien. 

I know the plan was for Farmer, Castro, and Lewis to be part of the answer to getting you to the playoffs, but that plan is crashing and burning. DFA Farmer and call up Emma or Severino or Eeles or whoever. See if some youth with their careers on the line can provide a spark and get you a couple Ws. The vets aren't doing it. Don't go down with the vet ship just because it was the plan in April. It's September. Give the kids with energy some run. Maybe sitting the Angels series gets Lewis and Castro back on track. What's the worst that can happen?

Just about our whole lineup is kids.  Look up the ages for Castro, Julien, Larnach, Lewis, Lee, Wallner, Miranda, Martin, and Jeffers. This is most of our active position player list.  Exactly how much younger do you think they should get?   Keirsey and Helman are older Players.  Kyle Farmer is not holding anybody back and is one of the last experienced voices left in the club house.  His 10 ABs per week handed to someone making their MLB debut in a pennant race is Not going to be a game changer.  They are going to win or lose with the personnel they currently have.

[Guest]

1.  Twins medical staff:  please do a YouTube video search.

2.  Surely, we can salvage one MLB-quality #3 or 4 SP out of Zouie Fesland-Richmorris....

[mikelink45]

After reading your article I went to the minor league review and it struck me that maybe someone like Carson McCusker who has been hot at every level might be a good addition.  Good bat, good attitude.  Plug him in at DH and see if he can continue his good season.  What's to lose?

[Riverbrian]

10 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

I'd like to see them give the kids some chances this week. What do they have to lose? Give Lewis and Castro a day or 2 or 3, and play Martin, Keirsey, and Wallner across the outfield. Play Miranda, Lee, Julien, and Santana across the infield. DH Larnach. What's the worst that happens? They score 2 total runs in 3 games while being shutout twice? That's already happening. I guess they have a lefty going against them tomorrow so put Helman at 2B or RF and DH Wallner or Julien. 

I know the plan was for Farmer, Castro, and Lewis to be part of the answer to getting you to the playoffs, but that plan is crashing and burning. DFA Farmer and call up Emma or Severino or Eeles or whoever. See if some youth with their careers on the line can provide a spark and get you a couple Ws. The vets aren't doing it. Don't go down with the vet ship just because it was the plan in April. It's September. Give the kids with energy some run. Maybe sitting the Angels series gets Lewis and Castro back on track. What's the worst that can happen?

I agree... would have rather seen things like this done in June or July.

Waiting until September kinda puts the ole' back against the wall unnecessarily. 

[Riverbrian]

5 hours ago, Wizard11 said:

Just about our whole lineup is kids.  Look up the ages for Castro, Julien, Larnach, Lewis, Lee, Wallner, Miranda, Martin, and Jeffers. This is most of our active position player list.  Exactly how much younger do you think they should get?   Keirsey and Helman are older Players.  Kyle Farmer is not holding anybody back and is one of the last experienced voices left in the club house.  His 10 ABs per week handed to someone making their MLB debut in a pennant race is Not going to be a game changer.  They are going to win or lose with the personnel they currently have.

Check out the Tigers

[LewFordLives]

It's more than a little frustrating when the two guys drawing the biggest paychecks on the team only play for about half the games each season.

[chpettit19]

8 hours ago, Wizard11 said:

Just about our whole lineup is kids.  Look up the ages for Castro, Julien, Larnach, Lewis, Lee, Wallner, Miranda, Martin, and Jeffers. This is most of our active position player list.  Exactly how much younger do you think they should get?   Keirsey and Helman are older Players.  Kyle Farmer is not holding anybody back and is one of the last experienced voices left in the club house.  His 10 ABs per week handed to someone making their MLB debut in a pennant race is Not going to be a game changer.  They are going to win or lose with the personnel they currently have.

Castro has been in the bigs since 2019. Fully in the bigs since 2020. Julien is a "kid" with little experience. Larnach has been in the bigs since 2021. Lewis since 2022. Lee is a "kid" with little experience. Wallner debuted in 2022 but is kind of in a middle ground. Miranda has been a big leaguer since 2022 but was injured last year. Martin is a "kid" with limited experience. Jeffers has been in the bigs since 2020. Castro, Larnach, Lewis, Miranda, and Jeffers absolutely can't play the "kid" card anymore. 

Kyle Farmer is holding people back. You only get 14 roster spots for position players in September. 13 up until then. Rostering a guy like Farmer is holding players, and the team, back. He's not a major league player. You're actively hurting your team by rostering him. Correa and Buxton are in the clubhouse (especially at home, don't always travel). If Farmer's voice is so needed in the clubhouse DFA him and keep him around as a coach. His 10 ABs a week matter. 

Yes, they are going to win or lose with the personnel they currently have. The only roster change I suggested was dropping Farmer. I didn't suggest changing out 10 guys. What I suggested was giving guys who are young/inexperienced and hungry to make a career a real shot. Castro is bad right now. He's hurting the team. The article suggests he may be tired. I suggested giving him 2 or 3 days off to see what a hungry Keirsey can do. The article suggests Lewis may be tired. I suggested sitting him for 2 or 3 days and seeing if a hungry Helman can spark something. They can't sit them all, but fielding a team with 3 guys you almost completely refuse to use (Farmer, Keirsey, Helman) while you watch the guys you want to be good completely fall apart doesn't make sense. 

Drop Farmer and get somebody with a chance to be good up here. Play Keirsey and Helman. Don't let the ship sink without trying all your options.

[Blyleven2011]

I'd just rather pass on the week in-review  ,  it's just too frustrating to re- ive it ...

[LambchoP]

I think calling up some young determined, hungry prospects like E Rodriguez and Eeles could provide some kind of boost. Maybe give the guys slumping like Lewis and Castro a bit of a break. Either way, we better use this home stand to turn it around and win some games. Otherwise this next road trip against Boston and CLE may just spell the end of our playoff hopes.

[gman]

Correa has played 75 games this year, so won't make a hundred even if he shows up for the rest of the year which is doubtful. Buxton has played 90 and would have to play half the remaining games to make a hundred. Doubtful.

The rest Santana and Castro have played the most this year. These are the only players that started the year healthy enough to get 500 plate appearances for the year. Wallner will counting his minor league at bats. Miranda and Larnach might if they play every last game and count minor league appearances.

Maybe the off season programs. including diet and rest, should be geared towards guys being able to play a full season and plan on getting 650 plate appearances.

[Florida Flash]

I still think the annual injury epidemic is due to nearly everyone constantly pounding the weights. Everyone wants to hit home runs for the money. Who make more, money? Some 310 fitter that only hits 5 or 6 home runs, or some 190 hitter that hits 20 home runs, but is out half the season every year?

[Riverbrian]

9 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

They can't sit them all, but fielding a team with 3 guys you almost completely refuse to use (Farmer, Keirsey, Helman) while you watch the guys you want to be good completely fall apart doesn't make sense. 

Exactly this

You want a bulletproof team... this is how you become it. You want to be prepared for injuries... this is how you do it. 

You don't have depth unless you play your depth. If your nine best players are struggling and you keep playing them. Let's not sit here and blame the players not playing. Those players are not the ones who were called up and not utilized. 

If the manager doesn't believe they can help when you neeeeeeeeeeeeed helppppppppp.

GET THEM OFF THE TEAM... they are worthless.

And... and... of course... If Helman and Kiersay are not going to be trusted to help when needed and they are neeeeeeded. 

DO SOMETHING AT THE TRADE DEADLINE so you don't have to rely on the unreliable.  

Injuries and poor play is not an excuse for not being staffed.  

How many years does anyone need to go back to confirm a ball park figure on how many players are needed to get through a 162 game schedule.  

There is one thing that consistently sinks your team. Poor play that you just can't take out of the lineup because the next guy is poorer. 

[chpettit19]

1 hour ago, Riverbrian said:

There is one thing that consistently sinks your team. Poor play that you just can't take out of the lineup because the next guy is poorer. 

Or, worse yet (in my opinion at least), poor play that you just can't take out of the lineup because YOU THINK the next guy is poorer. They very well may be poorer, but at least give them a real shot to find out. A real shot includes being allowed to fail and still get playing time. Jackson Chourio (super prospect so not the same as most of the Twins guys) and the Brewers are a good example. He struggled a ton through May. Then the switch flipped and now he's playing like a star. Milwaukee didn't pull his playing time and replace him with Margot or Farmer types. They let him play and now they're being rewarded. 

At the end of May Chourio was hitting .210/.254/327/.582. That's less than stellar. He played in 50 of the teams first 57 games. They let him take his lumps and grow. He hasn't had an OPS under .876 in any month since May. June was .897, July .876, August .926, and September is off to a .935 start. They didn't replace him with Margot, Farmer, Gallo, or some other struggling vet. They're 4 games out of the best record in baseball and lead their division by 9 games. He's played in 129 of 143 games for them. 

The Brewers are the second youngest position player group in baseball, barely older than Cleveland. It hasn't always been pretty, but the youngsters learned and grew and improved. And now they're running away with their division. And, just because I want to annoy you further, they have 345 PAs of lefty on lefty. The Twins are at 176 PAs.