Ranking the Twins' Biggest Disappointments in 2023

For me Rocco is #1.  I just think he has his face in the analytic manual too often and forgets to watch the game.  Or maybe he just lacks some instincts for managing a pitching staff.

2.   Of course, I'm disappointed in Miranda, but he started slow last year too and then suddenly settled in.  Now he has no place to play because of #3

3.  Byron's inability to play CF negates any flexibility at DH.  Plus he seems to always get a pass from media.   Injuries or not the kid has been a disappointment for nine years.

4.  Correa yes but he will bounce back.  He's a pro and looks to be great in the clubhouse.  The PF is concerning though.

5.  There are more I suppose but we are in first place in a terrible division so it looks like they have time to work things out and run away with the central.  Go Twins

6. Bally Sports North 

On 6/3/2023 at 9:10 AM, saviking said:

If Wallner back to STP for Kepler was a trade, the Twins got fleeced!

Miranda and Correa are in a tier of their own for me as the biggest disappointments.  I put them above the others because they were supposed to be big contributors for the next several years.  If Correa does not get it together he will stand alone because that investment could have gone and Lewis could have taken over at SS.

Mahle is 1^st in the next tier.  How can getting absolutely nothing out of him be anything but a huge disappointment.  Of course, we gave up some decent assets for him.

The next two are quite debatable.  It’s reasonable to conclude Gordon’s absence has given Castro a chance and he has been great.  Vasquez has looked terrible at the plate but that’s not the primary reason he is here.  I would have to go with Jorge Lopez at #4 because our inability to rely on him is a big problem.  He started out great.  Maybe his recent struggles are just a hick-up but I would go with Jorge Lopez at #4.

# 5 could be Gordon / Vasquez or Kepler or even MAT.  Taylor has been bad offensively  the last month.  His wRC+ since May 1st is 56.

Correa is number 1 by a large margin.  Then maybe Rocco for batting Correa in number 3 spot where he hits into a number of double plays when there are runners on base. Correa has cost the Twins 2 or 3 wins when he hit into double plays with several runners on base. There is NO reason Correa should be batting in the 3 spot since he has lowest average of any 3 spot hitter in baseball.

Front Office: Correa signing. I think they missed seeing what the other 2 teams saw.  

Front Office:  Not being forthcoming on the whole Buxton issue, we deserve to know more. Last thing I heard is they would start letting him be in the field in May. If Buxton is the Twins DH for the next 6 seasons it is going to be detrimental to the team. I don’t ever see him being above average or maybe even an average DH.  I think they had to see this coming before they signed him to his new contract  

Front Office:  Trading away Arraez.  Hopefully the trade evens out but very disappointing that they refuse to spend on a top tier pitcher.  Not convinced yet that Lopez will be top tier but too early to judge  

Front Office:  Berrios trade.  I know Berrios wanted a new team and would have left. We have yet to see anything from the players we got back.  Think they were too hasty in this trade.

Rocco:  For continuing sending Kepler out day after day. He should be a bench player if even that. 

Rocco:  No intuition, just playing by stats.  

The Twins have a Star SS, his name is Royce Lewis.

Ober, Varland, Stewart have saved the pitching staff from imploding.

Offensively, the starters have been a mess. Free agents Solano, Castro & Farmer have also saved the day.

Once Kiriloff & Lewis settle in, Correa, Buxton and Polanco better pick it up.

Moran, Alcala & Jorge Lopez have been Hugh disappointments. Brook Stewart has singlehandedly saved this bullpen from completely imploding.

They need Theilbar back & Jax & Lopez sorted out and contributions from Pagan, Moran or Alcala to be a serious contender.

Lots of IF's, but the talent and potential are there if the coaching staff can get the job done.

On 6/2/2023 at 4:07 PM, Schmoeman5 said:

4 and 4A. Larnach and Miranda.  Hmm. Larnach wasn't even supposed to be with the big club coming out of Spring training, but due to injuries. Polanco and Kirilloff came north.  Had a real good 1st 10 days. Struggled and got sent down. Came back and hit 2 3R homers when he got back. As well as increasing his RBI total. Got sick with pneumonia and continued playing. Has missed 3 weeks and still leads team in RBI's. Miranda? Soph jinx maybe. But not top 5  disappointing. 

I must have missed your list, since it is to critic others without having a list yourself.

Those are my biggest disappointments, sure Jax, Lopez, Gordon or others may be higher for others but my expectations for those probably weren't as high as others. 

On 6/2/2023 at 9:26 AM, rick kayser said:

I would list management. They seemed to lack process in their develop plans, log-jamming a group of left handed corner out fielders, 1st/3rd basemen and few gold star relievers. Of course there are exceptions and the MLB draft is akin to on-line dating, still I have a nagging doubt that we have failed to maximize our development opportunities.

 

Plus, the Punto-ization of Max Kepler. 

On 6/2/2023 at 12:58 PM, High heat said:

Buxton is at the top of the list if the knee is now completely shot and he is a DH for the remainder of his careeer.

 

Correa will turn it around and hit fine not worried.  
 

Can I add Kepler to this list?  I thought with the shift ball his approach would go back to trying to pull the ball hard and more balls would be hits and HRs.  I guess I drank too much of that koolaid.
 

Miranda I was never sold in last season I figured there was going to be a sophomore slump but after the big spring training I was starting to come around.  
 

Mahle might work out if they can sign him long term for I big discount now that’s he is going through TJ.

Agree 100% with Kepler and have been disappointed in Buxton's swing for the fence and chasing pitches low and away.

7 hours ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

I must have missed your list, since it is to critic others without having a list yourself.

Those are my biggest disappointments, sure Jax, Lopez, Gordon or others may be higher for others but my expectations for those probably weren't as high as others. 

You're right. I didn't make a list. I didn't make a list because I didn't have high expectations for a lot of the guys being listed as disappointing. Buxton. Is doing what he'd done his whole career. Kepler has been on a back slide hitting wise since 2019. Gallo about what I expected. Miranda 2nd year jinx and being under Correa umbrella might have let it go to his head. So with that here goes. #1 Correa. Signed for big money. I didn't expect .200 in June. #2 Gordon. I did expect him to come out hot. Especially with injuries he was going to get chance to prove last year was no fluke. And he was described  by some as one of the best utility players out there. #3 Falvey. In an interview in January or February, he insisted the bullpen would be just fine and didn't require any kind of help to upgrade it. #4. The bullpen except for Duran. I did not expect multiple blown Holds and saves. Although I didn't have high expectations for Pagan. I did think Lopez Jax Moran etc would do much better. #5. Lopez the starter. I saw him this spring and his first 2 starts. I think he threw 31 pitches 1st inning vs KC. But settled in. I was wowed. But since he signed the contract it's be so-so at best. He seems to have that 1 bad inning per start. Disappointed in him since then. But there's hope that they can turn it around. 

22 minutes ago, Schmoeman5 said:

You're right. I didn't make a list. I didn't make a list because I didn't have high expectations for a lot of the guys being listed as disappointing. Buxton. Is doing what he'd done his whole career. Kepler has been on a back slide hitting wise since 2019. Gallo about what I expected. Miranda 2nd year jinx and being under Correa umbrella might have let it go to his head. So with that here goes. #1 Correa. Signed for big money. I didn't expect .200 in June. #2 Gordon. I did expect him to come out hot. Especially with injuries he was going to get chance to prove last year was no fluke. And he was described  by some as one of the best utility players out there. #3 Falvey. In an interview in January or February, he insisted the bullpen would be just fine and didn't require any kind of help to upgrade it. #4. The bullpen except for Duran. I did not expect multiple blown Holds and saves. Although I didn't have high expectations for Pagan. I did think Lopez Jax Moran etc would do much better. #5. Lopez the starter. I saw him this spring and his first 2 starts. I think he threw 31 pitches 1st inning vs KC. But settled in. I was wowed. But since he signed the contract it's be so-so at best. He seems to have that 1 bad inning per start. Disappointed in him since then. But there's hope that they can turn it around. 

I didn't have high expectations for quite a few players, so when ranking players some might seem too high for others.