A Chance Worth Taking: The Twins Are Still in This, Somehow

[stringer bell]

It's a mixed bag for sure and that the Twins are within a couple games of the Wild Card after 50 games is a surprise. The team has had more than their share of disappointments--Wallner, Lewis, Keaschall, Bell and Caratini from the Opening Day lineup--and a fair number of key injuries in Lopez, Abel and Bradley among the starting pitchers. The bullpen is substandard, although some incremental progress has been made.

IMHO, the team that played the first 50 games isn't good enough, even in the weak American League. The question to me is whether there is talent enough to break through and improve this team enough to be a real contender. A return of Wallner or Lewis playing at a high level could give the club a real push. Having someone emerge as a legit high-leverage BP arm would help greatly.

The Twins are third in the AL and ninth in MLB in scoring runs. Over the course of a season, that is probably good enough. They are quite a ways below average in Defensive Runs Saved and they have statistically once of the poorer bullpens. I think there is hope for a more middle of the road 'pen going forward. That's a lot of ifs to spend prospect capital on. 

[karcherd]

5 hours ago, Greglw3 said:

presence of and partial reliance on the group of Abel, Taj Bradley, Zebby Matthews, Andrew Morris, Austin Martin, Luke Keaschall, Kaelen Culpepper, Hendry Mendez, Emmanuel Rodriguez, the resurgent Gabriel Gonzalez, Walker Jenkins, Kendry Rojas, Allen Roden

The last seven names you list they are not relying on, even when they have had a chance to bring them up.  So until they are in the big leagues and learning how to play up here I won't consider them being relied on.

[karcherd]

3 hours ago, soyouresayingtheresachance said:

Now that Arcia and Kriedler are up, I'd prefer to see them play short. Lee shouldn't be there. His defense is not good enough for the position and his bat definitely does not make up for it. Arcia at 3rd. Kriedler at SS. Lee at 2nd. Clemens and Keaschall at 1st. 

 

Lee is your every day shortstop, that is the decision that was made on opening day.  He has done enough to hold the position until another proven option comes along or they want to promote Culpepper.  Moving him for a utility player sends the wrong message and won't make the team better.

If you want to move Keaschall, do it in the offseason unless it is the outfield where he has at least some experience.

[Wedman13]

10 hours ago, Hunter4848 said:

I hope Tom Pohlad paid you handsomely for this propaganda puff piece. 

Just because we are a middling team in the worst division in baseball does not make them a playoff contender...

That's actually exactly what it means

[JD-TWINS]

With Abel & Festa back by All-star break - seems feasible…….. the PEN becomes reasonable ….., SWR will be a fixture there balance of the year, along with Morris.

Prielipp - Rojas - Matthews piecing together the 4th & 5th starter spots with Ryan - Ober - Bradley ……… the rotation looks good ……. spot starts for Rojas to give other rotation guys an extra day between every other start.

They have the framework of a really decent staff, including the PEN over upcoming weeks. If starters maintain the 8th spot in WAR and the PEN can move from 23rd toward 16-17, it should translate to some more Wins.

If offensive replacements for Wallner & Lewis hit .220 each it will be a shot in the arm …… pretty low bar!

[Linus]

To quote Denny Green, the Twins are who we thought they are. The only reason this topic came up is because most of the rest of the league has stunk. 
I will say it appears Zoll might be a bit more aggressive in these roster moves compared to Falvey. I’m happy he took action. 

[Hunter4848]

30 minutes ago, Wedman13 said:

That's actually exactly what it means

I got some ocean front property in Arizona to sell you if you actually believe the Twins are a playoff contender...

[Hunter4848]

4 hours ago, Fire Dan Gladden said:

Heck yeah, I would be excited if they went 80-82 and made the playoffs!

At the beginning of the season, this team was expected to win 70 games or less. They lost their SP1 for the season. Two opening day starters were bad enough to be sent to AAA. Their starting catcher could miss half the season. The bullpen is atrocious. They then get into the playoffs where anything is possible.

If they do win 80 games that means that unexpected starting pitchers are having quality seasons. It means Buxton and a slew of younger position players are also having positive seasons. Knowing that ownership sucks, they aren't spending money, and that any moves made will be minor (especially with the strike forthcoming), that doesn't get you excited?
 

This loser mentality among Twins fans is exactly why we haven't had playoff success in decades. The Pohlads love fleecing rubes like you

[Wedman13]

31 minutes ago, Hunter4848 said:

This loser mentality among Twins fans is exactly why we haven't had playoff success in decades. The Pohlads love fleecing rubes like you

Silly me for fantasizing they won a playoff series 2.5 years ago.  Man the decades fly by... I'm such a loser, unlike someone as well schooled by facts as yourself

[Hunter4848]

37 minutes ago, Wedman13 said:

Silly me for fantasizing they won a playoff series 2.5 years ago.  Man the decades fly by... I'm such a loser, unlike someone as well schooled by facts as yourself

Wow! One playoff series win in decades! What an excellent franchise!!

The fact you think one series win is playoff success is proving my point. Talk about loser mentality...

[jkcarew]

Fans/bloggers/media embracing a team that almost annually “competes” in this context are the exact reason why the organization never improves. They don’t need to. They rely on the ridiculously low bar that exists in Twins Territory to obfuscate from the absolute and perennial meaningless this organization holds across the MLB landscape.

Enjoy the games…it’s baseball. Such that it is, they’re overachieving. But don’t pretend this is a competitive club for anything meaningful. Don’t pretend that they’re close. They aren’t. It’s another year of exhibition games, made notable only by the possibility of the debut of a number of the next generation.

[stringer bell]

I'd add to the evaluation that Lee had a similar run of competence eleven months ago and he really hasn't been very good except for the month of June in 2025 and his five week run this spring. He hasn't hit much the last week or so. Martin has regressed the last 20 at-bats. Batters ebb and flow every year. It is hard to stay patient until they are fully established and maybe after they are established (See Buxton, Byron). 

The Twins have precious few players who can absolutely be counted on. That is IMHO why it is hard to count on them being a good team until they actually show it on the field.

[Colbeh]

6 hours ago, Hunter4848 said:

You're the one attempting to spin mediocrity as a positive...

I personally wouldn't consider being mediocre in the worst division in baseball a positive. 

And yes, I would enjoy the Twins much more if they had a chance to compete for a World Series. But i get it the Pohlads have gotten you so used to right sizing the payroll that you'll cheer for whatever collection of players they put on the field

 

**Second worst division

It is nice to try to find some positives after years of anguish and be hopeful for what is being built for 27-28. Complaining solves nothing and spreads like wild fire

[Wedman13]

54 minutes ago, Hunter4848 said:

Wow! One playoff series win in decades! What an excellent franchise!!

The fact you think one series win is playoff success is proving my point. Talk about loser mentality...

So now the goal posts move, got it.  Figured that response was next.  Fairly predictable, heck, even 'mediocre'.  Enjoy the season!, I will.