What willl it take to make this year a successful year?

[MichiganTwins]

Obviously, the Twins have not been good, but with the close of the season coming up, it got me thinking about what it will take to make the season a step toward competing. Dozier is an obvious bright spot and the bullpen has been pretty good this year too. However, the recent resurgence of Pluoffe (hitting .405 in his last 10 games not including the 1-1 so far today), Colabello heating up a bit, and Pinto tearing the cover off of the ball. I have become a little hopeful that this season has not been completely a waste for this organization. Hopefully this continues, but what do you all think it will take to make the rest of the season a step in the right direction?

[Alex]

More games against Houston.

 

Really, though, seeing improved play from exactly the players you named.

[Halsey Hall]

I don't think anything would make this a successful season, other than finishing ahead of the palehose. But some good play to the end by Dozier, Pinto and Colabello would be nice to see and give a little hope for the future. It would make the end of the season go by faster if we could get some better starting pitching from this staff too. It'll be hard to watch if most go like the last few have started out.

[Pius Jefferson]

Getting rid of Gardenhire and Anderson.

[Thegrin]

Signing Gardy to a multi-year contract would make this a good year. Keep the stability. Gardy is well respected by the players and knowing that Gardy and Andy are running the club might give us an edge when it comes to signing a FA pitcher.

[Pius Jefferson]

Stability of what? Another 90 loss season.

[Joe A. Preusser]

Signing Gardy to a multi-year contract would make this a good year. Keep the stability. Gardy is well respected by the players and knowing that Gardy and Andy are running the club might give us an edge when it comes to signing a FA pitcher.

 

Wow, I did not expect to see a comment like this. Well done, Sir. You will be egged by no less than 8 other posters in the next 24 hours. Do not despair.

[Joe A. Preusser]

Stability of what? Another 90 loss season.

 

The stability of 6 division wins in 8 years? The stability of 1000 career wins? The stability of a respected manager who would get hired in about 45 minutes if we let him go? There's several reasons. Pick whichever you like.

[LaBombo]

 

What will it take to make this year a successful year?

[PseudoSABR]

 

I'd actually like to see a cogent argument that specifies how the game has passed Gardy and Andy by. I'm not opposed to letting Anderson go with the setback of so many young pitchers, but the evidence against Gardy seems spurious and cynic-laden.

 

More than that, I'd like to know what in particular a new manager exactly brings, whether it be Molitor* or whomever, there needs to be a better, more exacting argument than change for change's sake.

 

*I could make an argument for Molitor myself, given his history with the organization, his major league success, his general gravitas throughout baseball, and his relationship with the emerging core. But that's mostly based on myth and sheepish somethings-got-to-give logic.

[Pius Jefferson]

The stability of 6 division wins in 8 years? The stability of 1000 career wins? The stability of a respected manager who would get hired in about 45 minutes if we let him go? There's several reasons. Pick whichever you like.

 

You know for sure he'd get hired in 45 minutes? I'd like to think Gardy could catch on with a contender but who knows.

The six division titles are nice, but he his post-season record is abysmal. Five times the Twins haven't gotten out of the first round and the last three times they didn't even win a game. You can't place all the blame on Gardy he does however deserve his share of the blame.

[Thegrin]

More things that could make the 2013 season a success would be:

- Diamond coming back and having several successful outings before the season ends. Pitchers after surgery have new arms but they have the same brain. Diamond proved he knows how to pitch in 2012.

- Pelfrey could have several more quality starts and then re-signs with the Twins.

- Florimon could go on a hitting streak.

- The bullpen continues to be nearly unhittable for the rest of September.

- Mauer looses his concussion syndromes and returns to hit, but Gardy won't let him catch.

and all the things you mentioned could come to pass as well.

[h2oface]

Nothing can make this a successful year. That was an easy one. Even if the right decision is made and Gardenhire and Ryan are gone, it is still a horrible year...... times 3.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Ideally, these goals should have been established a while back.

 

This was a rebuilding year, so anything that answers those questions would be what I consider successful.

 

1) Dozier

2) Bullpen

3) Deduno

4) Arcia

5) Pinto (SSS I know, but thus far he's shown he can be an ML starter)

 

Beyond that, I'm not so certain. Next year is going to be a bit more of that. Plouffe, Parmelee, Colabello, and Presley are going to have to prove something at the ML level. They will have all next season to do it, but all could find themselves unemployed or bench players if they do not. The next wave will be knocking at the door and guys like Sano, Meyer, May, Buxton, Hicks (hopefully), and Darnell could all be making a case for PT next season. Rochester fans should be excited.

[TheLeviathan]

I'd say we already know it wasn't successful. But there is still some hope for some glimmers to get excited about for next year. But the season was a disaster and nothing the last 25 or so games is going to change that.

[Joe A. Preusser]

You know for sure he'd get hired in 45 minutes? I'd like to think Gardy could catch on with a contender but who knows.

The six division titles are nice, but he his post-season record is abysmal. Five times the Twins haven't gotten out of the first round and the last three times they didn't even win a game. You can't place all the blame on Gardy he does however deserve his share of the blame.

 

Agreed, Gardy should take some of that blame. So should TR. So should the players who didn't get it done on the field. But when I look at Gardy I see an impressive resume and leadership ability that would probably be in high demand by a lot of teams. Sometimes it happens to be the right move to let a talented leader go in order to bring in another talented leader, but I don't believe that time is now.

[Mr. Brooks]

Agreed, Gardy should take some of that blame. So should TR. So should the players who didn't get it done on the field. But when I look at Gardy I see an impressive resume and leadership ability that would probably be in high demand by a lot of teams. Sometimes it happens to be the right move to let a talented leader go in order to bring in another talented leader, but I don't believe that time is now.

 

When I look at those division winning teams, I see some pretty talented rosters. I'm not so sure how much credit the manager should get for winning a pretty weak division with guys like Santana, Hunter, Mauer, Morneau, Cuddyer, Kubel, Garza, Nathan, Liriano, Pierzynski, etc.

I guess I don't understand why it's not a 2 way street? Why do the same people who say you can't blame him for losing 90 games with untalented rosters then give him credit for an impressive resume of winning games with very talented rosters?

[pierre75275]

This season is lost. We should now be playing for a top 5 pick in June. That would be a success in my book. That bein said seeing what guys like pressly pinto and colabello can do over a month of regular playing time is also important

[Winston Smith]

I like the gardy wins games it's the players that lose them! I guess if you can figure out how to have it both ways you are always golden!

[Rosterman]

I would cut Thomas, Roeincke, Ramirez, Bernier right now and bring in three guys like Beresford, Biigley and even Aaron Thompson to see what they can bring to the team. I would also promote Santana, Hermsen and DeVries. I want to see guys who might contribute in 2014 or beyond. I know some don't deserve to be added until November, but the Twins should take any advance looks at the fringe guys who can replace fringe guys. Have to decide if they are worth keeping around. If you don't think they belong, then make the moves now and add guys that will belong. If you need to cut Hermsen or DeVries, do it and let us see the Deans or Logans.

 

 

And if you aren't going to play Willingham and Doumit, who need all the help they can get to get to tradeable status, maybe you should've just dumped one or both when you had the opportunity. Never makes sense to let big money sit on the bench.

 

I wonder if a change of scenery would be good for Gardy, yet I'd also like to see him continue to manage and retire as an advisor similar to Tom Kelly, being Mr. Twin for life. But he has this partnership with Anderson that needs to be broken.

 

I also want to see some plans by management to promote baseball as baseball. We don't need to go to a Twins game because Target Field is outside and beautiful.We don;t need to go to a Twins game because it is the greenest stadium in baseball. We don't need to have the food advertised bigger than the players. We don't need to buy tickets so we can get preferential treatment for the overpriced All-Star Game, which is great, but can't wait to see the mess it creates in downtown Minneapolis. Maybe MLB will spend tons of money and help the Pohlads develop that parking lot into a mall outside the stadium.

 

I want players to cheer.

 

Maybe Diamond will be a gem for four games at season's end here.

 

I want major league baseball back.

[Mike Sixel]

1. Dozier stays good.

2. Pelfrey is awful the rest of the way, and TR is not fooled but a couple of good months

3. Arcia is good

4. No one that is going to be on the roster gets hurt

 

Other than that, I am at a loss, frankly.

 

As for Gardy, his supporters that point to the winning seasons, and give him credit, but hold him blameless now, well, I'm confused.......putting that part aside, in the last three years, which players have come up and looked better the more they worked with Gardy and his staff? Do these guys even do the little things right? I'd argue no. I'd offer both of those as evidence that he is not doing his job.

[stringer bell]

I agree with much that rosterman wrote. I don't believe in promotions for guys who haven't performed well in the minors or who won't be playing. I don't see that a couple of the players Joel mentioned have anything to offer more than the guys he was calling to DFA. A week or so I wrote a blog entry entitled "fire 'em all" and I stand by that for the management team, not that they are horrible, but is right now time to change the attitude, the culture, and the faces of the people running this team. On the field, the trials of Pinto, Presley, Arcia, and any call-ups will matter a bit. I have said since April that the success of this season will be about establishing positions on the team and only Brian Dozier has established himself, so ultimately this season will go down as a failure over and above the team's record.

[Thrylos]

I would cut Thomas, Roeincke, Ramirez, Bernier right now and bring in three guys like Beresford, Biigley and even Daryl Thompson to see what they can bring to the team..

 

Daryl Thompson was history early in the 2012 season... Do you mean Aaron Thompson (LHP)?

[Guest USAFChief]

I don't there's anything that can happen at this point that would make 2013 a success. There are some positive developments, but overall, the failure outweighs the success by a large margin.

 

i find some hope in thinking the organization might accept the need for change and start by finding the next manager and field staff, while also being more aggressive in using their financial resources to put more talent into the product at every level, primarily the major leagues.

 

while that wouldn't rescue 2013, I'd feel better about the future.

[Steve Penz]

I don't feel they can make it a successful season at this point but to make the remaining games as successful as possible they should take every opportunity to give reps to those who may be part of the future. Doumit, Willingham, and Pelfrey are not those people.

[howieramone1406390264]

I don't feel they can make it a successful season at this point but to make the remaining games as successful as possible they should take every opportunity to give reps to those who may be part of the future. Doumit, Willingham, and Pelfrey are not those people.

 

Reestablishing trade value for Doumit and The Hammer are important parts of the Twins near future. I don't believe they have made the final decision on Pelfrey yet.

[Siehbiscuit]

The 2013 season is a lost cause, but good things can still be accomplished. Continuous improvement from players that will be on the roster in the next 2-4 years for one is most important, IMO.

 

For all the people that think Gardy needs to go, I have to agree with you but for different reasons. First, he is not a stathead and we all know this. That is not why he has failed recently. He is a good manager, but not great.

 

This team has no vision and no fire. I recall the Marlins bringing in an old fat by the name of jack McKeon to light a fire under that team and they caught on fire and won a world series. FOr them the talent was always there, they just needed a spark. Sometimes a new voice, one that has more bite than just bark, changes the atmosphere enough to get more effort and passion out of a team.

 

Secondly, I would love to see TR step back into a complimentary role and let someone else build our MLB club. TR is a very good scout, but doesn't assemble a MLB roster well IMO

[howieramone1406390264]

Terry Ryan is 22 months into a 5 year rebuild. At 41 months it will make a lot more sense to everyone. Many on the board can already see it and the national media is picking it up. I think the last words I saw were "massive threat" in 2 or 3 years.

[SweetOne69]

Signing Gardy to a multi-year contract would make this a good year. Keep the stability. Gardy is well respected by the players and knowing that Gardy and Andy are running the club might give us an edge when it comes to signing a FA pitcher.

 

I have no problem with Gardy and feel that he has done a pretty decent job with what he has been given (most of the time), but I feel that it is a time for a change.

[Mike Sixel]

Terry Ryan is 22 months into a 5 year rebuild. At 41 months it will make a lot more sense to everyone. Many on the board can already see it and the national media is picking it up. I think the last words I saw were "massive threat" in 2 or 3 years.

 

What does this have to do with this thread, other than baiting people to come and argue about "5 years" "rebuild vs competitive".......