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GopherJeff

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Everything posted by GopherJeff

  1. GopherJeff
    Understanding the Twins' management logic is a challenge. In July, the team jettisoned significant talent to cut costs. For the 2nd half of the 2025 season, the on-field product was somewhere between mediocre and terrible and was not fun to watch. No playoffs, not even close. The Pohlads are baseball team owners to make money. They're not going to be generating a lot of income if the team is non-competitive and fans don't show up. Both seem likely. It seems like a downward spiral to me. As a Twins fan from the beginning, this is overtly disheartening. I see last place, behind the White Sox, in 2026.
  2. GopherJeff
    When a SP only pitches 4 or 5 innings, why not use a "long" reliever - someone that can go 2-3 innings - before going to the standard one-inning-per-pitcher route. This could be a dedicated RP or someone that could potentially be a SP when the string of consecutive games, w/o a day off, gets long.
  3. GopherJeff
    A Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde season for the hitters as a group. • Pre All-Star game: 5th in OPS, 6th in runs scored, (and 25th in SB) • Post All-Star game: 22nd in OPS, 18th in runs scored (and 30th - dead last - in SB). While some hitters had OK campaigns, there were/are no real stars on this team. Consistency matters. The manager's job is to field competitive lineups. Rocco's grade here should be a D (and not an F only because the first half was pretty good). Perhaps the offseason will rejuvenate their bodies and their minds about what it means to be a MLB player. Perhaps. I'm somewhat hopeful that the younger guys who will be the bedrock of the Twins for the next 5-10 years will mature and reach the level of performance that was projected for them.
  4. GopherJeff
    A high-quality starter is priority #1. If the Twins want to get serious about making the playoffs, pitching is what’s going to get them there. I don't think its realistic that Brooks Lee is going to get traded, even for a decent starter.
  5. GopherJeff
    I'm fine with Taylor for another year or two. He doesn't hit for high average but he's got some power (21 HRs), some speed (13 SB) and plays good D. He's 31 so his production likely won't improve. Castro is a nice utility player. I hope they hang on to him. I wonder where Gordon fits in to the team's plans? Buxton is a true enigma. He seems to be past his prime and is injured so often that he can't be relied upon for any contribution. If they can trade for a power-hitting OF, that would improve the team immensely. Wallner is young and will (hopefully) get a better sense of the strike zone. Kepler was fine in the 2nd half - what will be be like next year? He's 30 so even if he matches his post-all star game production, he's not a long term solution.
  6. GopherJeff
    Also: "House" started it's TV run and "Friends" ended its. And in 2004 Matt Bush was picked ahead of someone named Justin Verlander in the MLB draft.
  7. GopherJeff
    That trade - Mahle for Steer and Encarnacion-Strand - will be remembered as one of the worst. There are so many things with this Twins team that are just plain mediocre - where do you start? Trade more prospects for late career hitters (Arenado or Goldschmidt are frequently mentioned)? Jettison the management and hope new leadership can reinvigorate the current team? There are some things that need to be done now - and yet there's no evidence that this is going to happen,. This includes bringing up players that are doing well in AAA and AA, replacing Kepler and Gallo. This, to me, is the most frustrating part of being a fan. Also, being in the weakest division in MLB doesn't necessarily inspire attempts at greatness. If mediocre is all it takes to win the division, the current brain trust seems to be satisfied with the status quo.
  8. GopherJeff
    It would be great to add a bat like Arenado's to the lineup. Even though he's 32, he's still got some offensive clout - and to a puny Twins lineup,, that would be a plus. The Twins would not only have to give up some young talent (probably pitchers), Also, Arenado's contract is pricey. Would his contract - plus Correa's - eat up too much of the Twins limited payroll? How much is it worth to win the AL Central in 2023, only to be ousted in the first round of the playoffs? You never know though - would adding a bat like Arenado's (or Goldschmidt's) be the catalyst needed to get to the next level?
  9. GopherJeff
    Lack of talent, sketchy conditioning and poor coaching have plagued the Twins for a while now. If it wasn't for the quality starts by Ryan, Gray and Lopez, this team would be in the middle of the pack of the AL Central - the worst division in MLB. Injuries happen. Just about every player and pitcher goes through slumps. And sometimes a lineup or pitching change blows up. When it seems to be a pattern, fans get frustrated and start assigning blame. Yes, the Twins are at the top of their division now. They were through most of last season too, when bad play and decisions - and injuries - killed any hopes of post-season play. To be accountable, the decision makers need to show the fans that they know how to field a competitive team, that coming close isn't good enough.
  10. GopherJeff
    While we wait for Julien, Lewis, etc. to arrive, Larnach looks like a decent leadoff option. Move Kepler to the bottom of the order.
  11. GopherJeff
    Whatever moves the Twins make to acquire existing talent – and many of your suggestions are ambitious and worthy of consideration – Brooks Lee needs to stay. The team needs to develop and promote him. He could be a generational player.
  12. GopherJeff
    In 2022, Cleveland (AL Central champs) had the lowest payroll in MLB. Next lowest was Baltimore (the O's almost made the playoffs). Seattle (playoffs) and the Twins (mediocre) were about the same. The point: you plan and build for the future. You can have a winning team with low(er) cost personnel (this includes coaching staff). With free agency and the willingness to pay ballplayers $30M, $40M and soon $50M per year, there will be few dynasties.
  13. GopherJeff
    Agent Boras is going to determine where CC plays next year, and that means he'll go to the highest bidder. That, sadly, leaves the Twins out. Best for the Twins to focus on other needs: a solid shortstop and a top-level starter. If they can't acquire both via free agency, they'll need to put together a trade. What are the Twins willing to give up to get what they need?
  14. GopherJeff
    Gordon was one of the few pleasant surprises in 2022. He should be in the lineup every day. Since he's got decent speed, perhaps they could have him bunting and stealing bases more in '23.
  15. GopherJeff
    Getting even 2 innings out of a RP (aka "long relief") seems to be absent from the Twins current pitching philosophy. Archer and Bundy were both poor SP - perhaps they would be more valuable in long relief after the starter gets pulled after 5 -6 IP.
  16. GopherJeff
    Exactly. Unreliable relief pitchers = repeated blown saves. Unhealthy position players = minor leaguers playing every day. Inability to acquire/develop a legitimate #1 starter = guys like Archer and Bundy pitching every 5th day. Inflexible decision making = fan disenchantment. The Twin Cities metro (3.7 M) is the 16th largest by population in the US. If the team's management wants better than 22,000 average attendance, they need to address all of these oft-cited problems. (St. Louis is 21st in population (2.8 M) and they average 41,000 per game.)
  17. GopherJeff
    Urshela is a good deal for *at least* 2023. Offensively, he's not a star but he seems to be well-liked and is one of the team's better performers for '22 (which ain't saying much for this team). He's fine defensively - .985 fielding %, which is 2nd in MLB (behind only Matt Chapman). In short, he's definitely not a liability at 3rd base.. There are so many other needs for the Twins. Keeping Urshela around for another year (or more) is wise.
  18. GopherJeff
    Competing in the AL Central doesn't require much, as 2022 has revealed. If the Twins finish above .500 this year, consider it an 'exceeded expectations' season. I don't think the Twins have enough to go beyond competing in the AL Central in 2023. They need a top-tier SP and a legitimate power hitter. They also need to rethink the coaching staff - pitching, hitting, conditioning.
  19. GopherJeff
    Agree 100%! Some injuries are just bad luck but there's something wrong when this many players and pitches are in the IL,
  20. GopherJeff
    Signing Correa was huge. He gets to decide if he'll be back or not. It won't be the end of the world if he leaves but he's a needed presence in the lineup and on the field. As GM/FO, you can't pin your team's hopes on rookies or mid-level free agents. Their success depends on several factors, some of which are controllable - pitching & hitting coaches, conditioning. The Twins have some things to think about with regards to those factors. Athletes get injured. You can't predict that (although with Buxton, you can assume he'll be injured off and on) so you need a plan B at every position. The Twins have some OF depth but, as we have seen this season, not enough to sustain a team throughout a season. It's nice to have guys that can move around, like Arraez, Miranda and Gordon. All three are vital going forward. I'd also like to see the Twins use some $$ to get a legit SP1 and a power hitter.
  21. GopherJeff
    The Twins have blown almost as many saves (23) as they have converted (24), the worst save % of all 30 MLB teams. This points not only to ineffective personnel but ineffective pitcher management.
  22. GopherJeff
    I think your points are right on target. Since starters now typically go 4-6 innings, having at least 2 long relievers (LRs?) is crucial. Time for the Twins decision makers to be creative. I remember when the Orioles - 51 years ago - had FOUR starters that each won 20 games. https://www.baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/pitching.php?y=1971&t=BAL Pitchers/pitching strategy is 180° different now.
  23. GopherJeff
    It would be nice if he could rediscover his power stroke but it's hard to imagine him supplanting one of the younger guys platooning at 1B unless he suddenly had an OPS north of .750 (in 2019 - the year the Twins hit 307 dingers - Sano hit 34 in only 105 games). However, the Twins need to be realistic and budget conscious. He's not worth $14M. They need to put their money toward one or more reliable relievers.
  24. GopherJeff
    While none of these players will actually win ROY, they’ll all play a role in the team’s success this season. The competition in the playoffs (if they’re in them) will be much tougher than the schedule so far. Frankly, I’m more concerned about Buxton being an everyday player.
  25. GopherJeff
    Buxton's future performance should be expected to be similar to his past performance, which has been highly affected by injuries. There's no reason to expect him to remain less injury-prone. He's 27 now - pretty much in the peak performance period for most MLB hitters. Of course, there are exceptions - but as hitters near and age past 30, we typically see slight annual declines. Buxton's injury-tendancy might accelerate his decline. IF he stays healthy and plays 80-90% of the time, he could be an significant impact player/All Star. And he will definitely make the Twins a better team if he plays that much. Buxton is an exciting player and, if he's playing regularly, will be a draw for fans. Even if the Twins are mediocre, he will be fun to watch - if he's on the field and in the batter's box.
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