The 3 Biggest Problems Facing the Twins in 2021

Last item applies to every team in the league. Clearly some teams adapt better than others (see, "Chaos is a ladder").

Bottom line - Can't win games if you don't score runs.

This team needs a new identity. Cave needs to go, Dobnak and Rooker need to be demoted, Call up Law, AK and Broxton. I really think Twins need a TK type manager. Twins need to play fundamental baseball because that's why we love the game of baseball.

When every aspect of the team is failing it's time to look at the manager. You can't manage people (or games) by reading a spreadsheet and trusting the numbers. The metrics are an imperfect measurement of reality that should be used as an input into decisions, not a deterministic guide to action. 

This team couldn't handle TK. 

When every aspect of the team is failing...

But every aspect is not failing. Starting pitching is solid. Defense is better than past two years. Relievers have been burned but have also had their moments.

This team has scored 12 lousy runs in the last 7 games.  If the offense had been able to put together just 4 runs in five of its lost games so far this season the Twins record would be 11 - 5, not 6 - 10. The bats owe Berrios and Maeda at least a win each.  No team will have a winning record scoring less than two runs a game.

"This team couldn't handle TK."

Perhaps not. But he does not appear to be coming out of retirement.

If you want to talk about "Lack of Routine" how about using the same lineup every day? The hitting has been atrocious. If I understand correctly Baldelli doesn't require batting practice and it is strictly voluntary. Maybe these guys need to spend more time doing that. Maybe they should learn to hit the ball to the opposite field. Maybe some, if not all of them should learn how to bunt, or slap the ball to the open spot of the infield when the shift is on. Hitting homers is great but winning games by other means makes you better. That is clearly lacking. I don't think we have to worry about this team not winning any playoff games this year, they won't make the playoffs with this pathetic offense.

When I saw Sano's picture in this article I thought it was going to name 3 players as the "Biggest Problems" him being one of them. It's not hard to name 2 more, take your pick of a dozen.

Glad to see Sano pictured under the header "Biggest Problems Facing the Twins".

Fair or not, he is a big part of the problem right now, albeit only one of the issues as Cody has pointed out.

It may be just me, but it seems when Sano is hitting well it picks up the rest of the team and everyone seems to hit and play better (see 2019).

When he is not, it seems the team more often than not struggles (like the current 6-10 start).

Baldelli is a well-spoken guy, a player's manager. 

He protects guys and projects a soft, good-natured, completely relaxed persona where there is always a right answer and a positive way to take even the worst performances.

It's a glib patina and he is the definition of laid-back, cerebral.

Be interesting because Twins have played awful on the field this year and I can't see where his management decisions or style have helped.

Twins are finding new ways to lose with regularity and someone needs to start kicking things in the clubhouse.

I'm encouraged by some who are trying so hard to will Sano out of his miseries,. Yeah, he may be getting some 'good swings' but he isn't getting results. You don't get any style points when it comes to wins. When the BA is hovering around .100, you aren't succeeding. But Sano isn't the only issue for sure. Many find the RBI stat to be outdated and irrelevant. Yet, you need RBI. Someone has to do it. TWins can't bring runners home this season. Until that happens, all the metrics are nothing more than numbers on a computer.

When I see a runner at 2nd base, I want to see him score. Thats the responsibility of the guys who come next. I don't care how they do it. Just do it.

Their main issue is that they are playing "October Playoff baseball".   Unfortunately its the Twins version of playoff baseball.   I feel like it has continued into this season with the offense.   Individual players have been hot but they have not had a team offense yet.  Between injuries and resting and Covid lineups have been all over the place - there is still time to Gel but can't waste too much more time and this is very difficult to watch.       

This team needs a new identity. Cave needs to go, Dobnak and Rooker need to be demoted, Call up Law, AK and Broxton. I really think Twins need a TK type manager. Twins need to play fundamental baseball because that's why we love the game of baseball.

Sano needs to be demoted along with Polanco.

Losing Everyday Eddie might have been more of an impact than expected. Nobody has stepped in to pick up the RBI slack except maybe Buxton when he was moved to the 4 hole for a bit. Lack of a legit and consistent cleanup hitter with some fire seems to be the huge issue with lineup.

IMO our biggest problem for awhile is below average defense overall.

Seems to me that it is time for Rocco to change his management style. Every good leader is adept at changing styles to fit the situation. Rocco's hands off, let's not get hurt. make sure you are rested approach does not seem to be working. This team matches their manager in obvious internal fire.

New hitting coach please

Lack of a Routine will affect anyone in the worst manner [including the other 2 choices]

But.............

What the Twins front office has done with the bullpen is crazy. They let good people go, and bring in people less proven and with more issues. The bullpen needs a Josh Donaldson or Nelson Cruz signing. A big time reliever...or two. They eat up almost half your innings!!!!!! So....do something.

What the Twins front office has done with the bullpen is crazy. They let good people go, and bring in people less proven and with more issues. 

Fritz - while no one would argue that the bullpen stinks right now, I'm not sure what you stated is totally accurate if these are the "good people" the Twins let go.

Trevor May is 1-1 with a -0.2 WAR, 1.86 WHIP and a 4.15 ERA.

Sergio Romo is 0-1 with a -0.3 WAR, 1.94 WHIP and a 9.53 ERA.

Matt Wisler is 0-2 with a -0.5 WAR, 1.80 WHIP and a sparkling 12.60 ERA.

Tyler Clippard has not pitched this season (on the 60 day IL)

While I'm not going to worry about the record in April because everything usually balances over 162 games, I am concerned by the number of swings that miss. The Boston team put hard level swings on the ball that left line drives distributed throughout the field. Too many Twins have serious pull tendencies with pretty drastic upper cuts. The talent should be there but putting the ball in play is still important.

No team is going to do well with 4 guys in the lineup hitting a buck and a quarter.    It is too easy to pitch around the remaining lineup and when the Twins are successful it is because they are tough 1-9, which just hasn't happened (yet).

In the glass-half-full view, though, that time will come.    There are enough players on this team, now, to perform.    When we can trot out a consistent lineup of our catching duo (but not leading off, fer criminy sakes), Sano, Polanco/Arraez, Simmons, Donaldson, Kiriloff, Buxton, Kepler and Cruz, with some reasonable combination of 2nd catcher/Arraez/Gordon or Astudillo/4th outfielder who could play all 3 spots - Cave or Broxton perhaps, but not thrown into an everyday role - it allows a more balanced lineup with potential (not always realized potential) at every spot.    Just looking at the slash lines of our (other-than-Arraez) leadoff and 5-9 hitters all season is vomit-inducing.

With the cobbled together lineups every day where even your utility players get hurt, it’s a tough slog.  Have never seen a franchise get injured at a higher rate than this club.

However, managing becomes more important than ever,  it’s lazy to depend on home runs with this club.  Now more than ever, it’s necessary to manufacture runs.  Once runners are on base in early innings, the MGR has to call for hit and runs, sacrifice flies and slap singles to move and score runners. BUNT.  Rocco is keeping his hands in his pockets too much.  It will help for Arraez to return to spray the ball, but contact is necessary to score runs——so Miggy stays on the pine