SkyBlueWaters

i like the idea of developing the kids. (Which is good, because it's what we have.) The upcoming collective bargaining agreement is HUGE for determining MLB's landscape in the future. If MLB continues to let teams like the Mets and Dodgers buy up top talent, we are relegated to contending for the division title again. Memories of the first two decades of this century, anyone? But if MLB comes up with more competitive balance, and the Twins have established a core of young talent over the course of 2026, then maybe over the following half decade the Pohlads can buy talent that helps the Twins go deep into the playoffs.

After the dust settled and my gloom lifted in early August, I looked at the pieces left and was actually cautiously optimistic. The toughest thing to develop/acquire is starting pitching. (Joe Ryan is right that letting Sonny Gray go earlier was the worst recent move.) Otherwise, we have an excellent core for the rotation. A lot easier to find no. 4 or 5 starters than it is to find an ace. Beyond our top 3, we have a lot of arms to pick from as far as bullpen and 4 & 5 starters. It’s very much up in the air, and could either work well or blow up in their (our) faces. Signing a veteran or 2 to anchor the back of the bullpen could add much stability. I’d be forgiving if the spring saw bullpen struggles while finding answers for summer and early autumn. A lot also hinges on whether Royce Lewis can develop and complement Buck. A big bat at first would be huge. Lots of questions, including lots of potential.

When we heard of how much debt the Pohlads had accrued since the pandemic, i had some empathy for them. (Except for debt accrued turning Target Field into a garish amusement ride of swirling flashing lights, where I’m confused & looking around for the stats I want.) But since then, I’ve thought the way to assess the owners is by looking at all 30 MLB ownership groups—or indeed all major sports owners. Don’t many of them enjoy their teams like a hobby they invest in? Don’t many of them write off the red ink as part of the pleasure of owning a team? Considering the appreciation in value since Carl bought the Twins from Calvin, is Pohlad red ink for owning a sports team worse than other MLB ownership groups?

It’s fine to pick some of our hall of famers and all-stars from the past. And I do hope the current players you’ve noted go on to have illustrious careers. But what if their careers are closer to: Lombardozzi 25, Marty Cordova 25, Coomer 28, Meares 24, Brian Buchanan 26? Major League pitching has changed radically in recent decades. It might take longer now to get hitters major league ready and confident.

Exactly. Plus, when the Cardinals played the Twins last year Gray himself said he liked playing here. But he made it clear he was going to follow the money.

“ … pairing him again with López at the top of the rotation. That duo provides a one-two punch that rivals almost any staff in the American League. Ryan slides comfortably into a mid-rotation role, while Ober and Chris Paddack round things out. Suddenly, Minnesota has depth, hierarchy, and stability.” Exactly. This gets to the heart of it. Even with Lopez’s injury this year, the rotation would have remained competitive.

Would love to be privy to conversations the next owners are having regarding spending on free agency and retaining talent. Re-stocking the farm system this way is a good foundation. Good luck to Bader, enjoyed his hustle this year, would like to see him return, too.

I'd rather not toss Ober into the post-season as a frontline starter, but it's too late now. Had they acquired someone, Ober could have been either a fourth starter or long-relief. Gray would have been perfect.

But isn't that the point? If you're satisfied with just making the playoffs, fine. But teams like LAD, Philly, NYY, Balt are preparing for October. The test isn't how well our pitchers do against mediocrity. The cities that have championship parades have teams built for post-season success. Writers herein have posited that "you've got to get there first." Well, duh. How many teams built for post-season success *can't* win in the regular season?

This is spot on. I'm so tired of the "making the playoffs is our success" attitude. The FO should have added a legitimate arm at the deadline. The real contenders are positioning themselves for October. If our pitching staff can't excel and be fresh for October then it's just a matter of when Minnesotans once again rationalize whiffing on the post-season.

Which teams have an inside track to make it to a league championship series or higher--Balt, NYY, LAD, Philly, Cleve, maybe Atl, Milw. if they get hot? The Twins right now are a front line starter away from joining that crowd. We've got a lineup that could compete with the best, but without at least three quality starters they're still playoff cannon fodder. I really believe they're that close. ((And we HAD the pitcher we need, in Sonny Gray!)) This team is run as if by a risk-averse midwestern farmer. No, no flash for me, thanks, I'll just stand pat. As if they are the poster boys for why the twin cities has the longest championship drought of any metro area with three or more pro teams. Now watch fans get their hopes up while Lucy plants the football for Charlie Brown once again. It's beyond maddening.

I think we largely agree. I’d add, however, that this counts on the starters remaining healthy most of the year. How often is that realistic? I remember S.F., in 2012 I think, got incredible years from Cain, Bumgarner, Lincecum, Vogelsong, and Zito—those 5 started 160 games, and with that talent, goes a ways toward winning the World Series. But that’s far and away the exception. Most rotations need someone to step in. I sure hope that, after Lopez (legit ace), we can find playoff caliber no. 2 and 3 guys from Ryan, Ober, Varland, Paddack, maybe even Disco Desclafini, if he has a helluva bounceback. It’s just asking a lot. Especially as the FO has gone all in on position players, and the high ceiling we have in talent with Lewis, Correa, Buxton, even Julien.

Remember Wimpy, of the Popeye cartoons? “I will gladly pay you Tuesday, for a hamburger today.” The Twins are the reverse. We lost a wonderful pitcher in Sonny Grey, quality start after quality start, and we’ve only added a back of the rotation guy, while realistically getting one real prospect. (Ok, and a relief prospect.) It’s the reverse Wimpy. I’ll glad pay you today, for a hamburger on Tuesday.

Per the Ozzie Guillen quote about how people hated AJ, but if he was your teammate you hated him a little less, think of the ways AJ rubbed people the wrong way. I don't think that translates well in the booth. Frankly, he seemed a bit petty at times. I don't find your examples petty in the same way. Alternatively, perhaps Pierzynski could have been arrogant in the booth and made it work. For whatever reason, he seems to have gone with a less abrasive approach, It works, at least for me.

Agreed. While he was arrogant as player, he was also very intelligent. I think some PR person has gotten through to him, shown him how arrogance never plays well in the booth, and he's smart enough to learn what does work.