Article: The Late Summer of My Discontent

[Twins Fan From Afar]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=2319-The-Late-Summer-of-My-Discontent

[Mike Sixel]

2013 is the first year I have not been to a game, and I live 15 minutes from TF.....I refuse to give the Pohlad's more money for the pile. Others disagree, but I have better ways to spend my time and money than to watch AAA and AAAA players at MLB prices.

[howieramone1406390264]

Rebuilding is indeed a terrible thing. I'll go to my usual 15-20 games this year, because I've never found anything better than going to a MLB game. Gophers come close second.

[Steve Lein]

The most important sentence in the entirety of this post to me, is the last one:

 

"I'm unwilling to pay to watch the Twins waste the rest of Joe Mauer's prime years."

 

They've utterly and completely wasted the career of arguably their best player ever because they are unwilling to spend the money required in today's game/market to put a competitive team on the field. Sure, they had a $110+ MIL payroll a few years ago, but that team imploded into a terrible product, at which point they should have began the turnaround they are just putting into motion now. So now they're 2+ years behind in the process than where they should be, and still that much farther away from putting the team Mauer deserves on the field as he ages.

 

Yes, it's great that TR can say so-and-so "is overpaid" or "we can't invest that many years." But the fact remains that this is what the market for those players is dictating, and you have to take a chance like that at some point in order to get a guy that is going to make a difference.

 

The hope is that they will have a great lineup at some point in the next 2 years with guys like Arcia, Sano, Rosario, and Buxton joining the fold, but if they're counting on that to turn everything around, they, and we as fans, are going to end up supremely disappointed.

[Blackjack]

Last Friday I went to listen to the Twins on the radio and both stations where I can normally catch the Twins were broadcasting high school football games - and I didn't really care. Thank you Pohlads on two counts, broadcasting on a network thats unreliable and putting a product on the field that is very uninspiring.

[ashbury]

(but for my self-help blog,

)

 

lol

[Rosterman]

Monday was the ultimate cheap ticket game to go to. They started it at 6 p.m. The stands were nearly empty (only 9 folks in section 312 where I started the game). Many folks had failed to put the revised rainout tickets on StubHub (only like 1400 tickets were still on sale at game time). It looked pretty dismal at gamestart time, and the concessionaires seemed to be pretty meek. Not sure how many wandering vendors they had, as there were absolutely no lines on dollar dog night. Food was being prepared as ordered. It was hard to find a stand on the upper level after the 7th inning, and most people from that area had moved elsewhere. The outfield bleachers were pretty much empty all game (starting off in the 90+ degree sun and humidity).

 

The earlier start-time contributed to the vacant seats. The reschuedled rainout did too. The crowd picked up a bit when 7 p.m. rolled around.

 

But, yes, they sell a guaranteed 22,000 per game no matter what. But this was the first example where NO ONE had to but tickets for any of the Twins controlled sections. They were available via StubHub or on-the-street for a song.

 

Where it hurts is the concessions. Where it hurts is parking (not that the Twins control) but $5 spaces were available a lot closer than they were when we last went to a Twins game, cutting down our walk time in half.

 

We all cheered Josmil Pinto, which is what September should be about for a losing team. You get behind certain players and run with them. The only other to get the fans going on a two strike count was Glen Perkins, otherwise a pretty quiet crowd throughout, with some wanting to leave when the Twins fell to 3-1 and Weaver had thrown 59 pitches in the same amount of time Hernandez had thrown 100.

 

I can't get excited about the All-Star game with a pricetag in the area of $400 for the event ticket package.

 

It is truly going to be something to see the Twins season ticket push for 2014, what happens with Twinfest, and maybe the selling point will be the new plaza out back, not the extended parking lot that I thought was going to be the Plaza inking the Twins to Washington Avenue, which is also bordered by lots of empty retail spaces, which kind of defeats the purpose of surrounding a stadium with real estate.

 

The radio stations are a good point, too. How many stations will pony up the Twins fee next season. What are television ratings for the team. How much advertising revenue are they losing.

[Bark's Lounge]

Nice article TFFA. I feel your pain brother.

[Twins Fan From Afar]

Thanks for the comments.

Another (kind of) related question: What if the team wasn't hosting next year's All-Star Game?

Would their offseason moves be different, would they feel more pressure to put a winner on the field in 2014?

[zenser]

I feel your pain too. I bought a share of season tickets from a guy who spends I would guess in the range of 1 million on season tickets. He turns around and sells shares to his friends and associates. We were just asked if we wanted to sign on for next year. For me, it is tough to get motivated for next year. The All-Star game isn't that big of a sell for me. It would be fun to go to but it is kind of meaningless to me.

 

We live 4.5 hours away so when we go to a game we try to hit a weekend and get 2-3 games in. That is our family vacation and it is tough to convince the family to sit through something that is getting very hard to sit through.

[howieramone1406390264]

The most important sentence in the entirety of this post to me, is the last one:

 

"I'm unwilling to pay to watch the Twins waste the rest of Joe Mauer's prime years."

 

They've utterly and completely wasted the career of arguably their best player ever because they are unwilling to spend the money required in today's game/market to put a competitive team on the field. Sure, they had a $110+ MIL payroll a few years ago, but that team imploded into a terrible product, at which point they should have began the turnaround they are just putting into motion now. So now they're 2+ years behind in the process than where they should be, and still that much farther away from putting the team Mauer deserves on the field as he ages.

 

Yes, it's great that TR can say so-and-so "is overpaid" or "we can't invest that many years." But the fact remains that this is what the market for those players is dictating, and you have to take a chance like that at some point in order to get a guy that is going to make a difference.

 

The hope is that they will have a great lineup at some point in the next 2 years with guys like Arcia, Sano, Rosario, and Buxton joining the fold, but if they're counting on that to turn everything around, they, and we as fans, are going to end up supremely disappointed.

 

Joe Sheehan of SI wrote an article saying we will be the next Pirates. The parade starts on 2015.

[Brandon]

In 2015 i'll go to a game. But for now I skipped the Twins when they came to Texas to play the Rangers after they traded Morneau. It just didnt seem like now is the time to go to a Twins game. Better to wait till they decide its time to play better baseball.

[IdahoPilgrim]

Joe Sheehan of SI wrote an article saying we will be the next Pirates. The parade starts on 2015.

 

You mean, it'll be 20 years before we have a winning season?

 

Sorry, couldn't resist.

[scottsilvi]

Yeah I had season tickets for the last few years in the dome, and the first in Target field, despite living in Portland, OR. I did it to get opening day @ TF. Thousands of dollars for 1 game. Now I live nearly in sight of TF, and I have gone to 2 games this year. One with my wife, for our first Twins game @ TF, and the other Albers first start at TF. Probably only catch 1 or 2 if any of the kids come up next year.

[howieramone1406390264]

You mean, it'll be 20 years before we have a winning season?

 

Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

Don't exaggerate I think it was only 18. I really never liked the senior circuit but I can't help following Morneau. Based on very flimsy information, it looks like Pittsburgh is a well run organization.

[IdahoPilgrim]

Don't exaggerate I think it was only 18. I really never liked the senior circuit but I can't help following Morneau. Based on very flimsy information, it looks like Pittsburgh is a well run organization.

 

I've never been a National League fan either, although I've had to learn to follow it now that I live in a National League TV market. My "other" home team is Colorado - it's been fun watching Cuddyer, but other than that it's been a lackluster season for them too.

[gil4]

I have always been a Twins fan from afar, except 1965, when my parents moved from MN to CT just before the Twins' first World Series and not long before my first birthday. I guess I didn't really become a fan until I was six or seven, when the good years were either safely in the rear view mirror or well beyond the horizon.

 

Growing up surrounded by Red Sox and Yankees fans during that time period made me pretty resilliant. The long stretch of success the Twins had through 2010 always seemed like an abberation, and it will take more than a few losing years to turn me away. (Maybe I'm part of he problem.) I didn't make it to a game the past two years, but that had more to do with the work and family schedule than with the W-L record. I really wanted to go to the recent series in Texas (now the closest team for me), but we had company coming in to town.

 

The only thing that frustrates me is I feel like I could make better personnel decisions just with the limited information I get. I don't like the losing, and I suppose it would be a lot harder to sit through 40-80 games a year if I has season tickets, but I'm still fairly optimistic about 2015, and even 2014.

[IdahoPilgrim]

Growing up surrounded by Red Sox and Yankees fans during that time period made me pretty resilliant. The long stretch of success the Twins had through 2010 always seemed like an abberation, and it will take more than a few losing years to turn me away. (Maybe I'm part of he problem.) I didn't make it to a game the past two years, but that had more to do with the work and family schedule than with the W-L record. I really wanted to go to the recent series in Texas (now the closest team for me), but we had company coming in to town.

 

Don't let anybody ever make you feel that way. There's nothing wrong with loyalty, even when they're losing.

[Twins Fan From Afar]

Don't let anybody ever make you feel that way. There's nothing wrong with loyalty, even when they're losing.

 

For sure. There's nothing wrong with loyalty. I'll be a Twins fan until I die. But right now, the way I'm "expressing" my fandom is by complaining (from time to time) about the frustrating state of affairs, and by turning my attention to the farm system.

[IdahoPilgrim]

For sure. There's nothing wrong with loyalty. I'll be a Twins fan until I die. But right now, the way I'm "expressing" my fandom is by complaining (from time to time) about the frustrating state of affairs, and by turning my attention to the farm system.

 

And I'm not saying that is wrong either. But there have been some who have suggested in other threads that those who choose to continue to go to games and buy tickets are an indirect part of the problem. I strongly disagree.

 

Let's all be fans in the way our individual personalities lead us to be fans. For some that is continuing to go to games and buy tickets. For some that is turning our attention to the minors. For some that is boycotting as a form of financial pressure. I'm not going to argue that any of these are right or wrong. But let's not label any of them as "part of the problem."

[Mike Sixel]

Correct, there is no right or wrong way to be a fan. Give them your money, don't give them your money, it is your money.

[BabyJesusBuxton]

I've been in the Twin cities for 3 years now. The first two years I attended about 20 games a year and then I finally decided to get season tickets for this season... Mostly because I want to attend the allstar game and have good seats. I know for certain if the Twins weren't hosting the allstar game I wouldn't have bought a full season this year and I for sure wouldn't do it next year mostly because you can get tickets cheaper through scalpers/stubhub/craigslist than you can by being a season ticket holder. Not to mention the hassle of trying to get rid of any tickets for games you can't make it to. Hopefully by the time I have to decide for 2015 the Twins have turned the corner and it's a tougher decision for me.

 

The product definitely needs to get better in all aspects. The Twins can't rely solely on the prospects coming up and expect to put a good product out there by 2015.

[howieramone1406390264]

I've been in the Twin cities for 3 years now. The first two years I attended about 20 games a year and then I finally decided to get season tickets for this season... Mostly because I want to attend the allstar game and have good seats. I know for certain if the Twins weren't hosting the allstar game I wouldn't have bought a full season this year and I for sure wouldn't do it next year mostly because you can get tickets cheaper through scalpers/stubhub/craigslist than you can by being a season ticket holder. Not to mention the hassle of trying to get rid of any tickets for games you can't make it to. Hopefully by the time I have to decide for 2015 the Twins have turned the corner and it's a tougher decision for me.

 

The product definitely needs to get better in all aspects. The Twins can't rely solely on the prospects coming up and expect to put a good product out there by 2015.

 

Expect more Butera and Morneau type trades. They will be active in the FA market but will not thrill the board with a 6 year, 147M signing.

[DreInWA]

I don't think you are necessarily part of the problem if you are attending games right now, but we all are part of the problem is we continue to believe the narrative that the Twins try to put out there: "That the Morneau trade was to gain young talent, rather than dump salary, that any team can win their division, much less make a deep playoff run with only the assistance of young prospects."

 

I was always afraid when we gave Mauer that contract, that the Twins were going to turn into Baltimore with Cal Ripken Jr. and 8 other guys, and sadly in many ways this is occurring. To be clear, it isn't Mauer's fault, it is the fault of the Twins management for not being willing to spend (and in many cases) overpay for established talent. If we completely ignore pitching for a moment (which is ridiculous because the Twins staff is a mess), think about the hitters for the Twins in 2010.

 

[TABLE]

C

Joe Mauer

1B

Michael Cuddyer

2B

Orlando Hudson

3B

Danny Valencia

SS

J.J. Hardy

LF

Delmon Young

CF

Denard Span

RF

 

DH

Jason Kubel

 

Jim Thome

[/TABLE]

 

Now think about the current lineup. This, to me, displays the stark reality we are now facing. Was the lineup in 2010 going to set the world on fire and strike fear into the hearts of the AL East, certainly not, but everyone on this list save for Danny Valencia (who had a breakout debut in 2010), was at least an established big league player, and we could draw reasonable predictions about how they would produce.

 

I understand this is what rebuilding looks like, and you don't necessarily need to spend Dodger-money to win games, but at the end of another 90 loss season, it is simply baffling to me that:

 

1. The Twins continue to hold the party line that the cavalry is on the way, we just need to keep doing things the same way, and everything is going to be fine. Oh did we mention the 2014 All Star Game?

 

2. Fans continue to believe it.

 

We are all guilty of it. I for one would be thrilled if the Twins could at least return to being competitive, but this is still part of the problem. The Central is much more competitive than it was when the Twins were dominating it 5 years ago, and the Twins will have to change their strategies with the times. Unfortunately, as the author of this post points out, the level of arrogance still coming out of the organization at this point is frankly, unbelievable.

 

The Twins do have talent in their system, and the situation may not be as dire as we make it out to be. Guys like Arcia, Sano, Buxton, Pinto, Hicks and company look like they could do very well at the big league level. However, we can't just throw these guys in the deep end on their own and see if they sink or swim. If we spend the money to put established talent around these guys, we could be a scary team in the coming years.

 

Unfortunately, we aren't really hearing that from the organization, nor are we seeing it with their moves (and lack of moves) to this point. I am afraid we will just be a team with a couple of really great players, that is mildly competitive.

 

Which, when you think about it, is an apt description of the Twins during the Gardenhire era (not that I am blaming Gardenhire). The teams that are committed to winning don't always win, but they certainly win more often, and the Twins seem like they are only committed to winning enough games to sell tickets at this point.

 

I hope they do something in the offseason to disprove this notion.

[TheLeviathan]

Joe Sheehan of SI wrote an article saying we will be the next Pirates. The parade starts on 2015.

 

Joe Sheehan also predicted a playoff berth for the Padres this year. Hopefully they can reschedule their parade.

 

Whichonly speaks to the uncertainty of the future.

[ThePuck]

Joe Sheehan also predicted a playoff berth for the Padres this year. Hopefully they can reschedule their parade.

 

Whichonly speaks to the uncertainty of the future.

 

yeah, he also didn't actually predict playoff for the Twins in 2015, he thinks May and Meyer will both likely be in the rotation next year, he thinks the Astros will make the playoffs in 2016, and he has the Royals as unknown as to when they'll make the playoffs. Doesn't even guess. It reads as if he believes the Astros have a shot of making the playoffs sooner than the Royals. How anyone can look at the Astros and Royals and say that? The Royals are in the playoff race right now.

[howieramone1406390264]

Joe Sheehan also predicted a playoff berth for the Padres this year. Hopefully they can reschedule their parade.

 

Whichonly speaks to the uncertainty of the future.

 

I agree, it's only one man's opinion. Off the top of my head, I believe it's the 4th like article I've read. I'm glad you had a chance to read it. I'm sure you enjoy reading positive articles about our favorite team as much as I do.

[TheLeviathan]

I agree, it's only one man's opinion. Off the top of my head, I believe it's the 4th like article I've read. I'm glad you had a chance to read it. I'm sure you enjoy reading positive articles about our favorite team as much as I do.

 

I do. I also enjoy critical ones. My fan hood doesn't rest upon maintaining a perky cheerleaders mentality or bitter negativity. Sometimes praise is warranted and sometimes harsh criticism is too. A season like this certainly deserves plenty.

[jdotmcmahon]

Really enjoyed this article my dude...well said.

[Twins Fan From Afar]

Really enjoyed this article my dude...well said.

 

Thank you!