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LastOnePicked

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Everything posted by LastOnePicked

  1. LastOnePicked
    I think the idea is to *create new fans* through a championship run. The base of fans is strong here, but it's not nearly enough to grow revenue. Just another reason why winning when you can is important. Or, as I've said many times, just go into total rebuild mode. These guys should really pick a lane, because it's hard to see how this nibbling .500 approach brings home a pennant.
  2. LastOnePicked
    For years, I thought the lack of a killer instinct on this team was attributable to the coaching staff and FO. Now I think it goes much higher. No one with a desire to see a championship-winning team would take this approach to payroll after last season. I guess winning the Wild Card series was good enough in their eyes.
  3. LastOnePicked
    If not a strawman, this is at least close to one. At the very least a subtle mischaracterization of probably most TDers thoughts. 1) Since the Twins do not release actual figures on their total costs, income or profit, no one here has a clear picture if they are now or have ever been running the team at a cash loss. 2) A baseball team is a prestige item, not something to build a portfolio around. And the capital appreciation in and of itself is immense. And nothing boosts that appreciation like fan support and brand enthusiasm. And nothing boosts fan support like winning. And, it turns out, you have to spend money to make money. I don't think it's their "civic duty" to boost their payroll to or above last year's level, no. But it's also not our duty to cheer for or financially support a team that won't maintain or boost spending when the window of contention has cracked back open.
  4. LastOnePicked
    I just really really really really think they need another reliable #2-#3 starter. This rotation has very little depth, and very few reinforcements are waiting in the wings. I get the sense they think they can swing a trade near the deadline, but those are high cost and high risk.
  5. LastOnePicked
    I'm starting to wonder if we're going to get some bullpen starts this year. Like, a lot of them.
  6. LastOnePicked
    This. I get the points Nick is raising. I also like these Twins a lot. I'm hoping that the skepticism I feel creeping back in can be pushed off for another year. BUT ... it's a manager's job to manage talent. In fact, in an age where on-field decisions about length of starts and lineups can be dictated by the front office, the manager's interpersonal leadership skills are even more important. That work cannot always be handed to a veteran. I'm just hoping that Falvey/Levine aren't choosing "clubhouse character" over raw talent. It's your staff's job to shape that talent into professional skill. There are no nice-guy awards for super-harmonious teams - there's only the World Series trophy. I'd like to see that come here again.
  7. LastOnePicked
    We'll see how this works out for them. Sounds like they took the rebuild seriously, which is what teams should do. You lose big for awhile, you save, you build a young core, you try to spend more and win big when the core matures. It'll be interesting to contrast that with the Twins approach, where you make a single big FA splash signing, you work trades and you otherwise nibble and try to perennially hover around .500 and see if the breaks bounce your way into and through the postseason. We'll just have to see which organizational philosophy leads to greater success in 2024 and beyond.
  8. LastOnePicked
    Hmm. Substantially superior? If Julian, Wallner and Lewis can adjust and stay healthy, maybe. But the rotation is substantially inferior, and that usually sets the table for success. Bullpen looks okay. Lineup looks slightly above average. Speed looks below average. Defense appears average. Rotation is clearly below average. That doesn't lead me to the same optimism.
  9. LastOnePicked
    230 Wins and -68 Losses. Cannot wait to get this season started.
  10. LastOnePicked
    It seems Falvey/Levine are addicted to trading second basemen. Look out, Julien. Jokes aside, I kinda like this trade. Polanco has been hit with the injury bug pretty regularly recently, and Gonzalez could help offset a SP deal including one of our prominent OF prospects. I hope Polanco has a tremendous year in Seattle. But I like that the FO is willing to take these kinds of calculated risks.
  11. LastOnePicked
    Uh-oh. TD is already starting to run the "losing-ain't-so-bad," and "we'll-always-have-the-Sonny-Gray-pickoff-play" articles even before Spring Training starts. Can't we have a little chest thumping at the start of the year? Can't we hold out a little hope for a blockbuster-ish trade for a #2 starter? 😀
  12. LastOnePicked
    There is not enough wood in the whole of North America to make me feel comfortable starting Buxton in CF again. But I'll knock until my knuckles bleed if that'll help.
  13. LastOnePicked
    Okay, fine ... he's my pick to click. He may be a poor man's MAT, but we are poor and we won't have MAT. I say he's gonna do very well in 2024 as a bench CF option. Calling it.
  14. LastOnePicked
    I love Buxton. None of this is his fault. But ... we've been here before, gang. Many, many times before.
  15. LastOnePicked
    It's always amazing what top front offices can do in this game. Sure, there's some luck peppered in, but it usually follows on the heels of good decisions. That's why, more than any single player, I've wanted the Twins to acquire a top-tier front office. What they have now is good, but not outstanding. And they've had enough history here now to make that call.
  16. LastOnePicked
    Relax. I suspect Pagan will be available again mid-season.
  17. LastOnePicked
    Absolutely. I was looking forward to getting all huffy about losing Kiersey. Now what am I going to gripe about?
  18. LastOnePicked
    I want to say yes, but they just couldn't get over the hurdle last year. They still seem to be 2-3 players away yet from being a championship-level core. And the core you mentioned has more injury question marks than a Riddler costume. The last four offseasons have been interesting and important, but this one is especially so.
  19. LastOnePicked
    One of your best articles, Nick. Honestly. Even the potential reasons/rationales are well-considered. I'm still kind of hoping for the "under-promise" scenario myself. I seem to recall that they made similar comments at the start of last offseason, and then later Correa was signed. New postseason addict Joe Pohlad could certainly be talked into boosting payroll a bit come February, if a few good deals avail themselves, couldn't he? But we'll see. Maybe this is a new reality. But I think this market is potentially lucrative, and a healthy Royce Lewis could make this a very desirable team to stream.
  20. LastOnePicked
    WHAT?! WE NEEDED HIM!!!! ... are words I never thought I'd write on TD. Kidding aside, he should be proud of his resilience, and I'm happy for him. Reds opponents might be even happier come July. Twins will be just fine without him, I think.
  21. LastOnePicked
    For the record, I mostly agree with you. I think Maeda is a smart pitcher, and I would have liked to have him back. I'm just maybe not convinced that the arm is exactly "shiny" at this point. Or all that reliable. We'll see.
  22. LastOnePicked
    Not quite how these surgeries work. I think you're thinking of Iron Man movies. 😀
  23. LastOnePicked
    I usually see huge chunks of Twins sky falling , but I really liked this post and I think I agree. It seems like ownership and management have a really good relationship with talent here. That's a big part of the puzzle. Now, it's a matter of making the best moves possible with slightly tighter resources. I can see 2024 being fun regardless of this news.
  24. LastOnePicked
    Thank (insert your chosen force/power/creator-of-fate here)! Good to hear. Thanks for the update. Any chance we can get some Buxton and Lewis body miracles this offseason, too? Not pressing my luck. Just asking. 😀
  25. LastOnePicked
    Agreed. Targeting Gray from the Reds was a sharp move that paid off. I would love to see a young AAA hurler knocking on the door as his replacement, but even if that doesn't happen, the move for Gray propped open that contention window and dovetailed perfectly with the trade for Lopez.
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