S Bart

Well....if you don't put forth an effort...you don't sell tickets and merchandise. That is a nobrainer. For example, I have 2 friends who are not going to be renewing their season tickets. Every summer, I spend a good deal of my own money taking my family to games. It will not happen in 2025 based on the current trajectory of what is taking place. I will take them to see the less expensive Saints or another event and will forgo my annual merchandise purchases. That is beyond community spirit.. that is money not going to the team and bottom line. My point is that they promote community spirit and rah rah..it is a two way street.

As I mentioned in my message, I agree that they all have some responsibility in what took place this last season and my prior postings have made that clear via very much questioning the management. My main point is that leadership starts at the top. If the leader of this operation does not make changes to right the ship which he seems not willing to do, the challenges will continue. As a retiree whose dad placed a Twins cap on his head in 1965, had an opportunity to view the enraged Twins manager Billy Martin comically get upset at an umpire, met his hero, Harmon Killebrew, during breakfast at a downtown hotel later in life, was present at the last Metrodome game and witnessed Joe Nathan return to the mound after the game concluded (not many people know this) to place some dirt in a baggie as a keepsake..sorry old man here... many more memories... This whole current situation saddens me greatly. I usually take my grandkids to a couple of games each summer when I return to the Twin Cities to visit them and will probably switch to the Saints games in 2025. I really do not see how they can get it all solved without a change in ownership or the Pohlads doing something meaningful. :(

Well, I believe that a GOFUNDME page might work. I am willing to donate $1.00. Considering the profit that the Pohlads are making (see link), maybe I will think twice about the donation. The largest payment portion of the Target Field stadium which was built for the team to remain in Minnesota came from the public. Minnesota Twins franchise value 2024 | Statista It is interesting that the team value has increased over the last 20 years (see link above). A company that promotes themselves as a community product through advertising via goodwill gestures. places the state's name on their uniforms, has the owner as MC for new uniform modeling shows at the Mall of America for the public, ..etc..etc.. and then refuses to spend money on the product is pretty lame when they are pulling in such a good profit. I also find it hilarious that they threw out a fan from the stadium who had a sign mentioning negativity towards the owner. I have been to Fenway and other stadiums (including a Vikings game) when a person has put such negativity present via signage but have never heard of someone kicked out after buying a ticket. I will put forth one point about ownership by the public via the link below. It would be great if it was feasible but one must remember that the owners make money and would be unwilling to do so as well as the public funding being realistic (my guess is that ticket sales and profits will decline in 2025 unless they don't do something major to upright the Twins' ship.) If the Pohlads sold the team, they could look back on it as having been a profit-making investment and there would be interested parties available to purchase the team. There would be no need to go the public route. Democracy at the Ballpark: Looking Towards a Fan-Owned Future – Society for American Baseball Research (sabr.org) Note to person making this comment...maybe your time would be better spent viewing the Youtube cat videos or Truth Social postings with your cup of morning coffee if you find TD columns to be too disturbing. Just a suggestion...but feel free to comment as you wish...that is why TD exists. THANKS FOR YOUR EFFORTS TD!

Can they save money and not hire a replacement for Levine? It's a penny in the budget? Any truth in the rumor that the owner is going to ask for fans to donate money to help hire good players next year? Has a GoFundme page been established?

Announced today that there will be no more coaching changes. As was stated on Skor North today, the rest of them are buddies...

It is a totally different business nowadays and comparing the WS days as well as Calvin just does not mesh. I lived through Calvin and even watched Billy manage the team. It was a different world. Yes, they all have some responsibility but the lack of business sense that Joe Pohlad has shown has placed daggers in this team. I have posted many examples via TD. When an owner advertises to the public after making a playoff run that funds would not be put forth the following year to improve the team and actually make cuts (Why in the world publicly advertise that information....especially after a playoff run ) and totally bungles a TV deal a few months later which resulted in fans not accessing games,,,he seems to concentrate on the teams' new unform choices and presents them via a modeling show with the players at the Mall of America ,,there is so much more..... so please...look at the facts and also compare the wise moves other team owners have made. At least Falvey and Rocco have some knowledge of the game. Joe is a 42-year-old with a BA in Communications (which is odd considering how poorly he did with the Gleeman interview) and has run the prior Pohlad businesses that he supervised into the ground. One only needs to look at the multi million loss that took place with the media business that he ran. Skor North mentioned it this week and I fact checked it to for accuracy. Chip Scroggins had an excellent article in the Tribune earlier this week. You can see the picture of Joe at the modeling show.

I'm unsure but will check on it. My point centers on the fact that the Pohlads have a duty in my view to consider how their "business decisions" impacts the fans.

Interesting article on the Pohlads spending. Minnesota Twins are Cheaper Now Than Back in the Metrodome Days (msn.com)

Well, the team has increased in attendance and Padres merchandise has boomed in San Diego. TV deals are not the only portion of the business income. I will guarantee that the number of subscribers will be higher next year.

It is interesting to note that three out of the four remaining AL playoff teams are from the Central Division? If somebody had told me via a crystal ball prediction last spring that three teams from this division would be in this situation and ask me to guess those teams, I would never have predicted that the Twins would be excluded.

Marge Schott and Charlie Finley were interesting characters who served as owners from days gone by. At least they were entertaining. The current Twins owner is dour and inept. I continue to be amazed that they have placed a family member, who has no successful business experience, to be in charge of the team. Here is a young communications major who announced this weird payroll negative comment last year followed by not doing anything to promote the team via a TV deal. His interview with Gleeman at the end of the season was horrible and a mammoth downer. Mr. Pohlad, show the fans you care and take positive steps to enhance the team (learn the business and view how other teams succeed). Losing a fan base equals lost profit.

Being a Twins fan in Padreland, I can comment on a BIG item that you can compare. It is how the Padres' owner and GM approach the operation of their team. They are simply awesome in SD and the Twins management/owners should review how others approach their operations (Also look at Philly). From a business sense, it is not a bad idea to see how other teams' function when one truly wants to succeed. On the Skor North Podcast today, Trevor P. made some very good recommendations. JUST FYI..the Padres defeated the Braves this evening and now play the Dodgers. They are serious rivals, and these upcoming games will be interesting to watch.

Folks,

One item that should be addressed is Target Field. The Pohlads may own the team, but the public helped pay for the stadium. Regarding Gleeman's article on the interview with Joe Pohlad, this owner kept referring to "his business" priorities, The Pohlad family should be reminded that the public paid for a good portion of that stadium where their business is operating. It should be taken into consideration when they cut people off from watching the games on TV (such as this year) and not wanting to invest in the team. Per Wikipedia "The final budget for construction was $435 million, of which $175 million was paid by the Twins and $260 million was paid by Hennepin County by way of a 0.15% county-wide sales tax. An additional $120 million in infrastructure costs were split between the county ($90 million), the team ($20 million), Target Corporation ($4.5 million), the Minnesota Department of Transportation ($3.5 million) and the Minnesota Ballpark Authority ($2 million) bringing the project's total cost to US$555 million."

AS Twins fan living in San Diego, I can attest that they fill the stadium and make it up big time in sales of merchandise....also include the playoffs. When you invest in a team, you also get back the money in ticket sales and much more.

Thanks for the info. about the unique SoFi stadium. I believe that I will try to locate parking near some type of mass transit and take that route. I have not seen a Vikings game since Brett Farve was their QB. Hopefully they will do well in London on Sunday. The Chargers in SD still told a negative connotation (not so for me). I have numerous friends who had season tickets who feel that the word "Chargers" is a curse word due to feeling abandoned by the owner. I live near the old stadium that has been torn down and replaced by one for soccer. One thing that I like about the Padres' games is that they permit you to bring your own food (not beer) through the gates. Although, a tall can of beer still runs about $16.00. The city, fans, and ownership so very much support the team. It is sad that the Twins ownership cannot get onboard to run it like SD operation.

YES,,please do it.

One point of interest is the hitting and pitching coaches. I agree with the prior posting connected to Maki. He probably deserves a C grade. He was working with three rookie starting pitchers and others (Ober/Ryan) who have progressed under his supervision. I just found it mindboggling to see the number of Twins pitchers moving on and off of the roster the last couple of months. One minute Alcala is on the roster, then out, then back on. There were new contracts picked up for other team cast-offs (e,g. Richards) then let go. I would be curious to see a full list of those moves. It must be extensive. I don't know that this is on Maki's shoulders as I believe Rocco was involved. Regardless, it should be noted that both Popkin and Maki never held those roles at an MLB level prior to being with the Twins. I also very much question Watkins remaining, although he is a good buddy of Rocco's. Watkins cost the Twins multiple games by not holding players at 3rd base. The ball waited for the runner at home plate and ended up in a hot box scenario.

Joe Pohlad F- He was named the CEO of the Polhlad's radio stations in 2016 after it was purchased. It collapsed and was sold for a big loss in 2020. Note that his academic qualifications consist of a communications degree from small private liberal arts Stonehill College back east. Two years ago, he was put in charge of the Twins. His biggest plan was to put forth a modeling show of the Twins new uniforms at the Mall of America. He helped design the new uniforms. Pohlad speaks of his concern for taking care of the family business, but he has no successful experience in that area nor does the 42-year-old have any academic background to show that he has knowledge on how to do it. Interesting to note that fellow AL Central rivals, KC, Detroit, and Cleveland are BENEFITING financially at the moment by way of being in the playoffs. It was something that was predicted for the Twins up to a month ago.

Well, the Giants weren't afraid to make big changes today. It is too bad the Twins could take a similar approach. Buster Posey introduced as Giants president of baseball operations (mlb.com)

It is a podcast...sorry.

Not going to dispute the fact that they will spend money on Santana. It is a bit sad that a 38-year-old led the team in hitting statistics. Although, I do hope that he earns a gold glove. Sorry, don't agree with your synopsis and the outlook on Miranda. I do not believe that he would be solid at first base and question his long-term sustainability. First base will be a "mystery position." Honestly, the Twins have so very many challenges going into next year that are far more pressing. P.S... LA Vikes fan, I live in San Diego and will be at SO-Fi, (first time) to watch the Vikes at the end of the month.

I am a Twins devotee but live in SD (MLB team with the best record since the all-star break). I can verify that the Padre fans enjoy having Arraez .314 avg. and Solano .286 avg. as part of the team. The manager especially likes Arraez. “Wow, what an amazing hitter,’’ Padres manager Mike Shildt said. “What an amazing guy. He’s been a huge part of this group.’’

Brought up through the Twins system and has stated that he shed tears when he left...Luis Arraez just won his 3rd batting title Luis Arraez A+