A Radically Different Deadline Approach Has Led to the Same August Results for the Minnesota Twins

[MeleMouth]

4 hours ago, Eris said:

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but I believe that the trades were made to maintain fan interest/attendance rather than with an expectation that this team would be competitive in the postseason. 
 

For several years, the strategy has been to squeak into the playoffs by taking advantage of playing in the weakest division in baseball and then hope for the best.

This is actually relatively sane behavior, because most businesses try to pay the least possible to develop the products they need to make get results in their market. This is basically what the Twins do, because they have a monopoly in their market. The problem, of course, is that many market monopolists in MLB have more resources and many other monopolists with resources similar to the Twins compete in more difficult divisions so competition forces them to be smarter in managing their resources in order to maximize their revenue. Then, once the playoffs come around, the Twins monopoly loses to these wealthier or smarter monopolies.

[weitz41]

A historically terrible AL plays a large part in this comparison.  In fact, it makes it apples to oranges IMO.

Let's count our blessings, a CEO that says we're going to be completive or one who says we need to right size payroll? A GM that says your right Shelty, Lee isn't a SS, Royce you're not our 3b anymore, Wallner got strike out in AAA? Now low and behold we've promoted two guys in August.

Sure, they should have traded Jeffers and Larnach at a minimum at the deadline. But really how many more LH outfielders do we need? 😜

[HarmonK03]

This team badly needs new and competent leadership to lead the baseball operations.  That is where I am holding Tom P. accountable, hire someone with experience and get out of their way.  Let them present a plan and what resources are needed, if they are reasonable approve it.

Whatever plans Falvey has had are a mystery to the fans and that is a problem.  You need to be able sell what you are trying to accomplish and that can be done without giving details, a good leader knows how to do this.  And this is something Falvey was not and Zoll is even worse.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

I still am all for the 2026 version of the trade deadline. 100%   Play each game like there is no tomorrow.  A caveat...I'm 81 and i live each day with gratitude and optimism. 

[Hubie29]

3 hours ago, GNess said:

 The moves made didn't cause the losing record in August.

 

 

 

 

It's the moves they didn't make. They lost Ryan, added Kremer. Added Hoffman to a bullpen revolving door. Where did they add anything on the offensive side or defense?

[LastOnePicked]

3 hours ago, MeleMouth said:

Then, once the playoffs come around, the Twins monopoly loses to these wealthier or smarter monopolies.

The Pohlads have plenty of money. It's the intelligence deficit that's the real issue with this club.

[LastOnePicked]

11 minutes ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

I'm 81 and i live each day with gratitude and optimism. 

That's great, and I love it. Here's hoping you reach 101.

But the problem with the "play each game like it's your last" approach for a major league team is that you can actually damage tomorrow's chances with today's mistakes. That's precisely what happened this past offseason.