The Twins Keep Getting Punched in the Mouth, and They Struggle to Punch Back

[Five minute major]

I have been saying for the past few years that this team needs a complete overhaul at the top.  Bring in a new GM that will hire a coach that has any semblance of intuition.   The analytics is not only boring for the fan but the players as well.   The batters have no chance to develop any ritual or consistency with being sat in  favor of analytics.   The approaches at the plate show this as well with some absolutely inexcusable at bats the last month.    This entire organization is still riding the huge coatails of the Nelson Cruz.    There were questions regarding Rocco when he was hired and none of those have been quelled.  

[Five minute major]

Baseball is no different than any other sport in that momentum and confidence are crucial.   Batters on this team have no chance to develop either and regardless of how they perform they will be benched in favor of analytics.   It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand this.   And in no sports situation is confidence more important that a major league AB.  Look at the stats of this team.   I have never seen a team stat sheet so balance in AB.  Nobody has a chance to get hot and then stay there with the exception it seems with Willi Castro who has taken some of the worst AB's of the season all year.   

[karcherd]

29 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

They are STILL INJURED. The medical staff said both players will be day-to-day for the rest of the season.

If they are still injured, then they should be on the IL.  We have 14 games to go, we have lost two in a row and not looked good doing it.  They need to be in the lineup if they are on the active roster.  If you don't have a sense of urgency with 14 games left and barely hanging on to a playoff spot when will you.

[S Bart]

Realistically, the team has three rookie starting pitchers who struggle at times and cannot be counted on to complete many innings which is then followed by a questionable relief group. The hitting and the increase in the strikeout percentages has also made it nerve-wracking to watch. I am a senior citizen who has been an avid Twins fan all my life. Some of the managing decisions this year, the third base coaching mistakes, and the Pohlads' refusal to address any hope of potential additions last month are all mindboggling. There is much more including the young second baseman consistently boggling the ball. It is my hope that they will be able to sneak into the playoffs, but the entire infrastructure is so very frayed to think that they can do much in the end. One has to have hope, but it is important to be realistic. 

[nicksaviking]

4 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Nothing is ever Baldelli's fault. Nor his responsibility. Nothing. Ever.

 

One wonders what exactly IS his job description. 

Many of the posters can be objective and point out his faults along with the stuff that they do not see as his fault.  However, there are exponentially more people on this site who blame Baldelli for everything than there are who blame him for nothing. And the people who blame him for everything seem to think that any comment suggesting Baldelli isn't to blame for a particular issue wholly endorse his job performance.

Personally, I'm on board replacing him in the off season if for no other reason than to shock the players out of their complacency and see if someone else can even out the extreme productivity highs and lows of the players, but I'm not going to sit here and pretend that everything Baldelli does is a sin to the game.

 

[USAFChief]

1 minute ago, nicksaviking said:

Many of the posters can be objective and point out his faults along with the stuff that they do not see as his fault.  However, there are exponentially more people on this site who blame Baldelli for everything than there are who blame him for nothing. And the people who blame him for everything seem to think that any comment suggesting Baldelli isn't to blame for a particular issue wholly endorse his job performance.

Personally, I'm on board replacing him in the off season if for no other reason than to shock the players out of their complacency and see if someone else can even out the extreme productivity highs and lows of the players, but I'm not going to sit here and pretend that everything Baldelli does is a sin to the game.

 

Agree to disagree.

 

[D.C Twins]

4 hours ago, Whitey333 said:

Well researched article.  I realize with all the new analytics that the "eye test" does t mean much apparently.  Anyone can " see" there has been no life in this team for weeks.  They play with no sense of urgency or passion.  They have lost 8 of their last 11 and worse yet 18 of their last 25.  Their wild card lead is down to 2.5 games against both the Tigers and Mariners.  The " eye test" says it all; analytics not withstanding.

Quality leadership matters... and we don't got it...

[D.C Twins]

3 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Lots of emotional projection in the comments here. Are these the true emotions of the team or emotions you are having and projecting onto the team?

Yes.

[JD-TWINS]

46 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Nothing is ever Baldelli's fault. Nor his responsibility. Nothing. Ever.

 

One wonders what exactly IS his job description. 

How is 9 guys totaling 5 hits the Managers fault - ever.

9 runs in one inning, mostly due to the bullpen savior…….the Manager’s fault, how?

[JD-TWINS]

28 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Agree to disagree.

 

The guy is in favor of replacing him…….but you disagree and think EVERYTHING he does is wrong? My kids could manage and not do everything wrong ……..gotta get real.

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, karcherd said:

If they are still injured, then they should be on the IL.  We have 14 games to go, we have lost two in a row and not looked good doing it.  They need to be in the lineup if they are on the active roster.  If you don't have a sense of urgency with 14 games left and barely hanging on to a playoff spot when will you.

The organization made the call that having day-to-day Buxton and Correa on the roster is more valuable than having Helman and Kiersey on the roster. I can't argue against that.

[nicksaviking]

44 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

The guy is in favor of replacing him…….but you disagree and think EVERYTHING he does is wrong? My kids could manage and not do everything wrong ……..gotta get real.

Any chance one of your kids is Terry Francona?

[FargoFanMan]

1 hour ago, Badgolfer34 said:

Just need to get the season over and make some player and coaching staff changes.. They are gassed .

Player changes are going to happen in the sense that anyone who is owed a moderate salary is on the block. Paddock, Farmer, Margot, Santana, and Kepler will be gone. Don’t be surprised if they shop guys like Duran and anyone who can bring in youth. The free agent wire will be ice cold. Remember that we have to “Right size” this franchise. There will be a lot of sink or swim experiments next year in the rotation, bullpen and lineup. I predict nothing will change with the coaching staff and either one of Falvey or Levine will be the PBO of a different franchise next year. That’s my crystal ball prediction.

[sftwinsfan]

With essentially using 3 rookies in the rotation, not a surprise they're collapsing. More concerning is the bullpen isn't good outside maybe Jax and Sands. Defense is bad. Baserunning is bad. Even outside Buxton and Correa being injured, the guys that are there have been terrible. Look at 2nd half numbers for Willi Castro, Ryan Jeffers and Jose Miranda. Julien, Martin and Lee do not look like MLB caliber players at this point in their careers. Just not a good team right now. 

[Craig Arko]

Punched back today.

[NotAboutWinning]

18 hours ago, FargoFanMan said:

Player changes are going to happen in the sense that anyone who is owed a moderate salary is on the block. Paddock, Farmer, Margot, Santana, and Kepler will be gone. Don’t be surprised if they shop guys like Duran and anyone who can bring in youth. The free agent wire will be ice cold. Remember that we have to “Right size” this franchise. There will be a lot of sink or swim experiments next year in the rotation, bullpen and lineup. I predict nothing will change with the coaching staff and either one of Falvey or Levine will be the PBO of a different franchise next year. That’s my crystal ball prediction.

You nailed it! Next year is going to be brutal, financially speaking 😣