ND-Fan

I don't expect much in free agency signings for the coming year they may sign couple of relievers but no real money put out for number of years. I think there whole plan is on gamble that Sano and Buxton turn things around. Then hope Kepler finally puts everything together hitting this year proved he could hit left hand pitching but he couldn't hit right hand pitching. Also he has been unlucky getting better results with way he has hit the ball. Starting pitching looks to be about as good as the Twins have had in recent history. Still a lot of ifs on this front only time will tell. Everybody is talking about Escobar returning but I have feeling he's going to cost a lot more than Twins are willing to pay. I thinking he one the players all the metrics guys are falling in love with can play several positions he hits well for average and still has some pop in his bat. If Buxton can return and stay healthy and begin to hit again the out field will be above average. Sano coming back in shape will secure left side of the infield. Mauer if signed again will anchor 1 base. The big question will be who will play second base my guess will be Gordon until he proves he can't next year. This where they look for Escobar but like I say the cost may to high for the Twins. They will look for a cheaper version on shorter contract. This plan is all based on the big if for the Twins that Buxton and Sano become big pieces to the core of this team. If not the whole plan falls apart and they have no older core to fall back to carry this team like Dozier and Escobar. Every one thinks they are going to sign big name free agents its not going to happen. We will know by June of next year where we stand but I would hate to be on business side of Twins operation. How are you going to sell this team and get people to buy season tickets. I think the public will take same approach that Front Office has done see what they have adjust their plan by how this team does.

What did he say that was so terrible it was fact and if you could get true Front Office opinion is they do not care if they win the more losses the better there draft selection for next year. They have given the fans very little reason to go watch this team unless your baseball loving person. Santana is being pitched with hopes they can still trade him by August 31 deadline which I wouldn't be surprised they do. Morrison should have been released at least two months ago or paid somebody to have taken him in a trade. The core of this team is Sano and Buxton if this fails were looking at another 3 to 4 year rebuild for this team. The question is can this Front Office fix these players or are we going to see them fix by another organization my guess is that latter is true for one of them and maybe both of them. Kepler is other core piece and I am afraid were going trade him and he will become super star some where else. The Twins should have called up number prospects from the minors but because of business side and team control that doesn't happen anymore. So were basically stuck with group to play out the season. The good part is only month and half left of this year.

Lynn and Morrisson there was reason for them not to be signed and we have seen it this year in their performances. They were signed to one year deals not best thing for club house chemistry getting players not happy having to sign lower than expected one year contract and not with contending team after all was said and done. Second this young core is very close to being a bust for the Twins. Buxton looks to have career where he can't stay healthy and still hasn't learned to hit at big leagues. Sano career hangs in the balance but i just have feeling he can't sustain this life changing program i think his family and culture are to important to him so to change how he maintains himself and what important to him are so different than what MLB demands of its players. I hope i am wrong but the next year is going to tell the story. Kepler i think is going to become all star player but i get feeling the Twins may part company for prospects before that happens. So if these players are not part of the core the twins become very weak team and dependent on farm system made up alot of very young talent still couple years from Majors. This could lead to couple of 100 loss seasons. They may have payroll flexibility but i am pretty sure your not going to sign top free Agent talent here when Minnesota can't show they can win. This talent wants to go to winners not team rebuilding. The problem with this Front Office has been they are not convinced of talent they have or had so they trying play both sides of the fence. Usually what happens is going down road for failure and rebuild proccess takes twice as long if you are still there. This is why i have little faith in this front office because either you believe in plan you start and try to make it work you can't be half committed because usually thats kind of performance you get from your players. Also way they have shuffled players back forth even when the player they have called up did everything you wanted but they just wanted another fresh body doesn't create team moral or that they want to continue to play for this organization. I am afraid the word is out and alot of players are going to instruct thier agents to keep them away from the Twins. I believe this management team brought in has updated the Twins organization to analytics but I am not convinced that there are more to putting team together than just the numbers. Its intangibles and getting players believing in what your doing so far I don't think this has happened.

all these trades and Twins haven't even addressed there major need in position player and thats catcher. I would have thought they would have tried to find couple of catchers in A levels from some these teams hoped one would stick and could become a catcher for the Twins in near future. Still loading up outfielders, first baseman and lot of relief type pitching prospects. This sure looks like This Front office is blowing up organization starting over to me and before we contend again will be 2021 at the earliest. I am betting before we start next year Sano and Buxton may also will be gone for prospects. I don't know if i can take another couple of 95 to 100 loss seasons but i am afraid that what there going to do. This Front office is going to build on their draft pick of Royce lewis and the future 95 plus loss seasons draft picks. I like to hear how they spin this next couple of years. Only reason to continue to watch this team is see how many players they are going to trade away before year end. I feel for Molitor he's being set up for the fall guy and he's one is going to be offered to public as needed correction to get this club going in right direction. I don't care how good manager you are can't win without talent and also with players not buying into what a front office is doing. I am willing to bet its going to be hard to sign FA in future to come to MN with this front office. The word will be Front office at any signs of loosing is going to throw in the towel and look to the future. If put something together like this year you need to show players you believe in what you did and expect them to also buy in believe they can win. But now two years in row they just waive white flag and give up not something you want to be teaching your young developing players but they are doing again as Front office. I got quit rambling but its hard not to be totally disappointed see we are becoming the new Chicago Cubs of the American league.

I am loosing any faith I had in MN Twins front office and ownership now I don't see any plan on how were going to win next year or year after this. Basically were blowing this organization up to rebuild again after basically 6 disaster season and one marginal season where this group of players started to learn how to win. So we have season not expected for the talent assembled and now were trading away large portion of the pieces to restock supposedly very good farm system. This all sounds good where we have this great farm system but now we have traded away bulk of experienced talent that have learned to play and be successful in MLB. All we have left is one highly regarded young pitcher, Two promising outfielders, and respectable short stop. Then we have two players who were thought to be next future MLB All stars and so far they look like they could be both a bust. The one has right attitude works hard but looks like he prone to be DL a lot and he may never be able to hit MLB pitching, the other has lots of talent but work ethic seems could be a problem and again because of this he is prone to be on DL and may not be able to compete at MLB level in the future. So who are they going to build this team around or we just starting over again so that means were at least 4 years away until we can compete again. That means even the talent we have on this team will need to be traded in the next year or so this is not what we were sold when we hired this new Front Office. So you think I am hard on the Twins you should here my son and his friends who are millennials they have lost all patience with the Twins. My son said I need to look for another team to be a fan because he is so tired Twins trading for prospects and never developing in great players and then they trade them away they become star to help another team win a championship. I know this for fact Millennials will not putup with wait for the future like I have my whole life. Twins business management and ownership better start looking at this. They are loosing a generation if they don't start putting team that can win and fans can identify the players who are leaders and stars of this team. Tell me who do the Twins have as identifiable everyday players who are stars on this team if continue trade and let players become free agents. Minnesotans could identify there stars for Vikings, Timberwolves, and Wild if you asked them but I willing to bet if you asked them identify Twins stars either they have been traded or will not be playing for the Twins next year. How are they going to sell the Twins next year to get people to buy season tickets, or even believe in them having chance to win. This Front Office may think it has time to build a winner but if attendance and fan interest drops significantly they may have very short leash. If they loose in high 90's again this year and look like they are on pace to do it again next year ownership may want to show they are making changes improve the situation especially after giving this FO 3 plus years show improvement but wins and loses are not improving but going the other way.

Could be valuable players in the future but it also mean were putting of having contending team again looking to the future when you trade for prospects. This front office has yet to sign deal to keep control of young talent here for the long term. The question will be if they are of mind to never to do that just continue trading for future talent. If the latter is the case we never have team that will make real deep run at the playoffs. I look at this years club by time Sano and Buxton if they develop they will be in their final years of control guess what we will be trading them for the future. Same thing will happen to Rosario and Kepler were chewing up team control without developing winnner. It just happen to Dozier and Escobar. Its close to happening with Gibson wouldn't be surprised we end up trading him yet before season done. It looks to me they are blowing up team again to start all over again hoping Buxton and Sano can create winner as soon as 2020 or we will start again. By next year we will have lost Dozier, Escobar, Pressely, Gibson, Mauer,Santana, Duke, Rodney, and possibly Morrison. That means we have lost our 1, 2, and 3 baseman, our 2 and 3 starting pitchers; Closer, eighth inning reliever, and left hand specialist. If were building from within it also means we will be calling up whole lot of minor league players for next year not a formula to win immediately they will have learn to play in big leagues. Will make for affordable ball club with huge amount of salary gone will be back 50 to 60 million in payroll one of the lowest paid teams in MLB. Everyone complained about Terry Ryan being cheap but look this front office is no different because it set by ownership on philosophy of how this team is going to be run. Another prediction I have is that Levine will be gone before next year because there are couple of opportunities coming for him this coming year. At sometime if were going to have real contender were going to need to invest in some ball players who are going to be leaders of this ball club. The Twins just surrendered rest of the year to Vikings for press not that Vikings have been winners on that front before. The Twins will be little blip on the sports coverage now that surrendered for the year and are trading away players that fans come to see play the game. Also look at the schedule its all with AL central teams mostly or teams with bottom of their divisions not strong drawing card. I hate to be so negative but its hard to know that players like Escobar are gone one the players you like to watch and play. ITs been struggle this year as it has been with way this team has played. I thought some of the signings were going to be help but Morrisson signing has sure been bust how much worse could have been just to play Kenney Vargas there. It seems his numbers year before on part time basis were just as good or better. I am truly disgusted with this year and loosing faith in the Twins management because were getting same results over and over. Terry Ryan was fired because the Twins needed to modernize and I have seen where things have changed but were still getting same results players are not developing and have regressed or not developed I wonder why we haven't hit on some our top draft picks like other clubs have. Just some things to ponder.

I am going to give another view point on trading talent for future prospects in my years over watching the Twins I never have seen where that has produced a winner and if you look at it most times it meant on the whole team has taken a step backward in near future. Yes there's time to blow up team when whole team is has aged past being able to compete but look at it now only players on the team in that category is Mauer and Santanna. Yet Mauer is still valuable piece in the Twins line up and so was Santana until this year. I look at this team they are just starting to learn how to win and now were talking about breaking them up. In Major league baseball young teams very rarely win it all and even have hard time qualifying to make the playoffs. Look at the Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, they keep veteran players around that have been winners they teach there young players how to win and fight through adversity and they always looking for next veteran player to fill that roll. Dozier and Escobar are in prime age to be this player and they now have idea what it takes to win with year like last year. Now were going to trade for the future but this means were putting off winning again at least another 2 to 3 years. To when if Buxton and Sano can learn to become big leaguers and have learned to win but here again we will becoming to when they will need to be traded. What I am saying a GMs need to look at players they have if they think they can win that group they need to invest in them long term and you have enough talent in pipeline to add to these players to win a championship. FAlvey talks about being contender long term but I don't believe that can be done win a championship. This is especially true of smaller market teams. KC is example of doing it the right way they kept their talent some say to long but they had championship run and now are paying the price again to rebuild. The Twins have been playing other game since the 90's see what its got them some trips to playoffs but it has been one and done deal mostly until you run out talent and start all over. To ownership having contender is good for the pocket book but you never experience being champion. Carl Pohlad must of understood this because he invested players long term at beginning of his ownership giving big contracts to Puckett, Hrbeck, and longterm contracts to Gagne, Gladden, Tapini, and then signing the veteran players who knew how to win. The small market teams need to pick their time and go for it. The question for the Twins what group of players are they going to choose to do this otherwise we see year after year of trading for the future but never winning the big one and even then if wrong thing happens you may never get to pot of gold and you have to start all over again.

I haven't watched much lately and every time i have watched or listened to the Twins same thing has happened to me watching the Twins. They have the lead and starting pitching has gotten them to late 5 to early 7 inning with a lead. They bring in releif help and first thing that happens is releif gives up the lead to where i turn off the Twins. I have lost total faith in Ryan Pressly he may have all makings and abilities of top reliever but he just gives up to many big hits and runs when he brought in. I willing he has given up lead at least 6 times this year or more when he has come into the games. That to me is six wins given up or they would be tied for first place if he would have held in his relief appearances. I can name several more like this and this is the feeling I have had all season something is not clicking with this team I don't know what it is but you just have that feeling. I wonder if it is to many of these guys are playing on their contract year and are not handling the pressure of playing like this. Also the way Twins were last year I wonder if they feel they are going to be traded by deadline because this team is not playing up to expectations. I look at this years club Dozier, Escobar, Mauer, Santana, Duke, Rodney, and Lance Lynn where these are leaders of this club or were expected to be for this year were seeing where this may be influencing how this club is performing. Also we have Sano and Polanco who are not contributing to this club like last year and we have club that is playing sub 500 baseball. The good thing is they have chance to turn this thing around because Cleveland hasn't played up to expectations. But the time is running out on this years club because I just don't see that same fire and urgency to win. FO got some big decisions ahead of it this year because it looks to me Sano is going to be bust as big star, Buxton is coming up to this too great defender but gets hurt to often making big plays and offense struggles with these injuries. So where does this leave the Twins if these players turn into busts and they loose Escobar, Dozier, and Mauer next year this leaves the Twins with two above average everyday players on the field of Kepler and Rosario. Like I say Twins have time to turn this around but longterm plans may be in trouble if Sano and Buxton are not ones to fit to into the future.

I get tired blaming the length of game all on the players you have to look at ownership and Tv for length of game the time between team changes have added at least 50 minutes a game because of commercials. If they really wanted to speed up the game shorten the number of commercials on team changes.

I will say it front office tried to improve our DH performance by getting some more pop into the lineup but looks like they are striking out also on this deal. If Morrison doesn't turn this around by middle of May and very latest the end of May they may be forced to make a move that they will not like to make. They have Kenny Vargas sitting down in minors wasting playing career that has better numbers than Morrison has been showing in the majors. Also Vargas has never been given a chance like Morrison has been given to prove himself at major league level even when he's not swinging the bat very well. The Twins right now have to many bats that are not productive right now which is one of the causes for this loosing streak. The big question will be if Morrison can turn this around or are the Twins forced to make a move. On paper this was very good move for the Twins but right now if things don't change Twins season could be disappearing quickly. When the Twins reach 40 games they are going to have pretty good idea of their strengths and weaknesses this year again by end of May. If They are going to have successful season they will then need to start making some changes if needed for the club. The glaring weaknesses of this club right now has been Morrison hitting slump, Sano striking out there's no way the twins succeed with his strike out rate, and then the bull pen needs to start cleaning up their mistakes which I am most confident about I think this still could be very good bull pen. Starting pitching I think is going to get better too this is best starting staff the Twins have had in over a decade. I think they are going to get better now with temps increasing and they start getting pitched on regular basis. The problem I see which is a good one is they may have to many starters for all of them to get enough work especially when Santana returns and I believe couple of minor league pitchers should get opportunity by July to pitch too! I hopeful for this team but sometimes teams that look good on paper and have talent never get there for some odd reason and this club could be one of them but by far its way to early to know yet on this team.

I believe this Dozier last year in Minnesota with this regime in place. He will be 32 years old and by all analytical people they will not pay for aging player no matter what his current numbers are. The Twins are so deep with talent coming up at second and short stop that signing Mauer just slows flow of these players to the major league club. Only way I see him staying with the Twins is they should trade Sano for a major pitcher this year later and he's willing to move from second to third base then they might sign him to contract but I find this scenario highly unlikely. I am getting to think what were going to see is that players over 31 years old are only be signed 1, 2 and 3 year contracts and after that it will be done one year contracts or minor league contract each year. That is why I am getting certain that were heading for nasty labor dispute at end of this current labor agreement. The Mauer contract will be thing of past unless labor agreement changes. Mauer contract he has been over paid last several years of the contract but it was paying for the bargain he was in his early part of his career. Owners and new management groups have gotten away from that forgetting this was unwritten rule between labor and ownership where they paid for early part of their careers with longterm later contract. This way baseball had lower costs to develop these players and didn't have to put up money for unproven players. This will be labor dispute now in the future players will want to be paid when they are young and productive so there will be very little time controlled by ownership in the future. So enjoy few years of labor free fights because the next one will be like we had back in early 90's.

I believe the truth lies some where in the middle of both sides of this argument. IT begins with highly competitive competition of getting major league roster spot and the cultural back ground of the player. Polanco went through a difficult season where he was almost out of baseball to where he made big comeback as player. Some may say he was using then but I believe that not to be case because the Twins were in the playoffs so I am betting they were being tested significantly late last year. I think it was more off season use of the drug. Polanco used local trainer that was having success and he wanting to improve himself believed the trainer or chose not to question the trainer to get ready for the season. Also I willing speculate he thought he would end it soon enough where he would be clean by beginning of spring training. But I willing to bet they tested him earlier than ever because of being in the playoffs and based on last years performance. I also think drug thing is more common in the culture he grew up because there your fighting to make out to the big time improve your life and your family situation there. I do believe him he thought he was just getting vitamins and supplements to build himself up to compete this year and he used trainer that probably had track record of getting good results. The Trainer here we do not know all of his motives but I am sure he was trying to get most performance out of Polonco to do this he may have been willing to use drugs with idea they would stop soon enough to not get caught. I think the Twins if they are going to get handle on this is they are going to have set up training facilities and trainers in these countries so when these players go home they don't get caught up with unethical training procedures. Because these players are going go home you can't expect them to live near Twins facilities in US and finding proven trainers that Twins approve to come to these players in their counties. For majority of these players they are major league minimum or minor league salaries which is better than average person wages but not is not life changing money. The gross pay looks good but there are a lot of things that come out pay like Agents commissions, Taxes from many different locals, Financial people to handle this accounting for you, maintaining several different living locations through the year and you see money starts to disappear quickly especially for young player.

You don't need to have one of the top 10 pitchers in Mlb but you need Two pitchers that are performing like top 10 pitcher at the end of the season. Also along with this you need bull pen that can dominate last 2 innings of the ball game or even the last 3 if necessary. The Twins 3 appearances in World series they had that in pitching. The 65 series they had Jim Kaat and Mud Cat Grant with respectable bull pen but the Dodgers had Two of the top 10 pitchers in MLB so the series was close but Kaat was out pitched by Kolfax in last game really close series. 87 world series the Twins had Viola and Blyleven two pitchers one was top 10 pitcher and other one who had been and was playing there at end of year with dominate 8 and 9 inning relievers. they won the series. 91 world series very similar to 87 with Morris and Erickson and good closing relief also had good third pitcher Tapani. I look at Washington, LA, Cleveland and Boston having some of the top pitchers but they haven't won world series pitching is important but overall team construction is important too to win a world series.

This regime I believe wants to move on from this group of players and in my mind they are slowly but surely moving talent that previous regime assembled here out the door. I look at next year I could see the Twins without Dozier, Mauer, Santana, Vargas, Escobar, Grossman, Duffy, and Sano very easily gone by next year. I could see the Twins trading Dozier, Santana, and Escobar at trading deadline if were not in contention in July even if were out like last year 4 to 5 games on the wild card. Vargas is gone before season opens. Duffy could be traded by July but more than likely gone before next year. Sano if he has complete season and has better year than last year they will trade him for some more pitching. Gossman could be traded anytime in a deal to bring additional pitching. That leaves us with Buxton, Rosario, and Kepler of original twins before this regime was here and I wouldn't be surprised if one them are also traded in next year or so too. I look at the Twins going with infield of Royce Lewis at SS, Polanco at second or Gordon, some one they sign for first base, and when they trade they will get a third baseman thrown into the deal. Also Hughes will be gone too and probably some more of pitchers in bull pen and in triple a. This regime wants to put there own stamp on this team and what we grew up developing players trying to sign them for long term I think is thing of the past with this group. They will put out public image of one thing but in fact they may be doing opposite thing with players and the organization. This is my gut feeling but they may win it all and be successful but it will have changed how baseball is done in this organization.

I would say this is important year for Kepler to show improvement in his hitting. I believe he could turn into one finest Right Fielders in MLB if his bat catches up with the rest of his skills. Last year made big strides on defensive side of baseball but struggled more offensively. I believe that he will make strides this year it takes couple years for players like Kepler to figure it out. I also was going to say Vargas this year but it looks like the Twins are going another direction. I just have gut feeling here that he could be one players that could really blossom into bigtime hitter after he leaves MN. Also his value being a switch hitter problem here in MN is getting consistent playing time behind Mauer, Sano, and Grossman. Could be good year for MN but it also be another step back year with this group learning how to win and produce.

If the market comes back on in next few days for remaining free agents like I think could happen. I could see the Twins signing Cobb for a three year contract at 36 to 39 million dollar mark with more incentives added to the contract to get the deal done. This would put the Twins pitching rotation in position to compete for the whole season with likely rotation Santana, Berrios,Odorizzi, Cobb, Gibson, and then you would have Hughes if healthy, Duffy, Mejia, and May to fill if anybody hurt or not performing. Also this this still leaves the two in minor leagues also available. It also may mean they don't add Cobb may wait until trade deadline to add a pitcher to see how the season goes. I soon would think they are going to turn their attention to resigning some players and extending some of their young talent. I guessing they are behind on this because of the slow off season in acquiring talent.

I am not in favor of trading for Archer and trading with Tampa again like they did with Delmond Young I still can remember that trade. I truly believe that trade cost Minnesota chance to go to the world series. We traded a way quality short stop and at that time quality starter for bust offensive player. If we trade for Archer will be trading away I think longterm all star right fielder plus several other high quality prospects for a pitcher that only plays every 5 days. I look at the Twins were not that deep in farm system right now if you consider where were at with our current team. It appears were not going to sign Dozier so we will be bringing up Gordon before season is over and when Dozier is traded if were not in running for playoff spot. Likely Mauer is playing his last season here with MN with this regime so we will be looking at bringing somebody up or signing FA in near future. But getting back to Trading for ARcher what does it do to MN if we trade Kepler. Look we move from being one the best outfields in MLB to just average. The reason I say this is Buxton going play whole season without hurting himself and we need a center fielder. Kepler gives us immediate backup with above average range as well as being able to have Granite fill outfield position so were still above league average. This outfield is why we had improved pitching last year but if we go backwards there also our pitching goes backward with exception of one starter. We need a starter go sign FA or trade with Houston for Starter but don't trade away future of this team on one player. I don't want to be looking at Tampa playing with our players in world series again because of trade and I am afraid that's what going to happen.

Santanna's injury is not good but its at right end of the season and when the Twins need 5 pitchers the least with only couple of dates for the 5 pitcher. Second I think if I remember right Santanna hasn't pitched in colder weather of beginning of the season. This also will let them give some younger pitchers a chance to perform to see what they have if they need to go into minor leagues. The missing out on Darvish looks like a miss but I truly believe going past 5 years on 31 year old pitcher is just huge mistake. We already can see what happens to pitcher in very short period of time look at Phil Hughes basically same age as Darvish resigned at 29 years of age for 4 more years see what happened. If you had pitcher with Phil Hughes numbers available at age 29 to be locked up people would be hollering at management to get him signed up for the future. Now look at the reaction and public signing of Phil Hughes now. I think it would be better if teams would pay just higher amounts on short term deals when they are in their window of opportunity. Like paying him close to 30 million plus incentives with creative options both ways for the player and team. Say you have 3 year contract at 30 million with extra incentives to push it to 100 million or little more with opt out after 2 years for the player and option after 3 year for the team to keep the player. Also you add real incentives for getting to world series and then again for winning the world series. Because basically if you look at most of top line pitchers recently in the world Series it has been on rental basis for their services. If you feel your in your window pay high price in that window and doesn't tie up payroll commitments for ever and block path for young pitchers coming up through the system. The Twins should maybe look at now signing couple of pitchers in level of 3 to number 4 pitchers with idea they hope to hit on one them and other may have to be let go or see if they can clear waivers to minors if they don't pan out. The way the market is shaping up now they could sign them for less money than Darvish would have cost on per year basis and likely could sign them to one year deal with option. I think this what LA has been doing lately just piling up pitching talent. If pitchers are not performing they just rotate until they find who is performing. But getting back to this management group its still not a lot different than previous management group because they are still working under same business model by ownership and business side of the Twins. They have spent a lot more money on analytics which has had some improvement on who's playing and where they are playing and how they are drafting talent. Terry Ryan wanted to expand scouting department and basically this new management group has done this but with analytical people where Terry wanted more people in the field. We will see if this way of scouting improves quality of players being acquired but this won't be know for at least another 5 years. The adding of Free agents under the Twins ownership philosophy will never will be where the Twins are leaders in signing FA in MLB. They will always will be well run business where they are returning a profit and will be enjoyable place to come watch baseball and every so often they may have chance to win championship if cards fall their way. They will be a team on average just a bit over mid point of major league clubs in long run.

Like i to say the jury is still out on the boy geniuses because this past year had very little to do with them but more the previous regime. As much as fans want to critize Terry Ryan the team out on field this past year is his vision of the Twins. These are players they scouted signed and developed over the past few years and it was free agents he signed as Gm alos on the field. This group has done a good job in coach hiring it appears from this past years performance but also alot of it had to do with keeping healty team on the field and development of young players in the organization. This regime had easier time of releasing several players than previous regime and i think this had more to do with success of the team. The releasing of Trevor Plouffe was one where it allowed the Twins move Sano to 3 base and Kepler to right field which both helped the offense and defense of the Twins which in turn improved the pitching over the year before. Also last years trades netted twins some much more pitching talent in Mejhia, Santiago, and Busenitz giving two more starters and another bull pen arm. Like I say this was Terry Ryans team on the field and I think boy geniuses were caught off guard that this group of players could compete and if they had done a little more in off season to improve the bull pen instead of weakening mid season this team could have gone a little further in the playoffs. This leadership group will be tested this year and we will have to see how there vision of the Twins and how they get to that vision. Then we will also see how that vision pans out for the Twins. They have a lot of big decisions this winter if they are going to improve this team next year and get them ready for possible playoff run. They will need to improve the bull pen something of weakness starting last season and they did nothing improve that pen if anything they weakened it by there trades last summer. Second what there plan is for starting pitching if they are going to keep some pitchers or are they going to sign a free agent or trade for a pitcher. All these moves will have longterm effects on how team will be structured in the future. There drafting of players that won't be know for at least another 3 to 4 years before we can determine that. The next thing is will they be able sign some of there young talent to longer term or will they just keep them under team control or will they trade them again for future talent. All these things will be determined this off season and next couple so like I say the jury is out on these boy geniuses. I have my doubts about them they say all right things for the public and media are in love with them for now. Also they got a huge gift from previous regime in that they were given team with a lot of young talent and cheap plus they started to learn how to win as a group. I will this group credit for giving Molitor information and coaches to where he has become a better manager if not one of the best in the game and getting better. I think the downfall of F and L will be I think they are extremely arrogant thinking they know everything when in baseball just when you think you got something figured out it changes. Like last summer when they gave up they have said they had only 4 % chance of winning is why they were sellers. Baseball maybe about numbers but it still played by people who may defy the numbers one way or another. That's what your good baseball people are about is finding the right mix of players getting them to play together and believe in what they are doing teaching them to play the game correctly. I may be wrong about F and L but its much more than there numbers its about people go look at Astros those players are all talking about getting that right mix of players and coaching that finally got them over the hill this year. yes they had a lot of talent but they did last year too but adding the right people got them to winning a championship. So we will see if this comes to Minnesota in next few years.

I could see the Twins trading for him if it is one quality position prospect with couple of low a to rookie league pitching prospects thrown in for hime or like some have been saying trading away dollars on international signing for some other prospect that cin would covet. But if we start talking several of top prospects than i think were way over paying should look else where for help.

You could also frame it other way in that Dodgers held tight not giving Bellinger in the trade look how that would have effected them this year. The home runs lost by trading him could not have been made up by Dozier. This was probably good call for both teams they were better off not making the trade. My experience over the years the big trades usually don't work out that well over the years. The smaller trades can be good but when you start trading big name players of team it usually doesn't work out that well. My point would be I look at some of the Twins bigger name trades in my lifetime like Blyleven, Burnansky, Viola and Santanna didn't end up with much. The ones that did work were Knoblauck and Pierzynski for the Twins but over the years I think the big name trades it more often was bust. I don't think even geniues of today are any better on prospects if they are going to be hit or failure to many factors that can happen.

Ideally would be Dozier leads off with homer to set the tone for the game and then the twins collect series of hits to put couple more runs in the first inning. Then Santanna shuts them down for number innings while Twins extend the lead with couple more runs in that same time. If the Twins could get to into 7 inning before using relief staff having 3 or 4 run lead this would be ideal game for the Twins and their pitching staff.

This pitching staff has about got as much as they can out this group of individuals down the stretch. Yet i think this team could surprise alot of experts if they get a chance to show people what they are capable of. What makes this pitching staff work is the kids playing behind them. This group of kids catch ball if its close and turn them into outs or limit the hits to singles majority of the time. I think this what has trurned around Gibson season he has learned he doesn't need to make perfect pitch but make the pitch that will keep the ball in the park. This has been Colon problem recently he has give up to many home runs in last outings. The Front office knows now they wish they wouldn't have traded Kinsler but they did. Today Levine I think was as honest as I have ever heard him in that they thought they were couple years away from becoming contender they miss judged what they had in the early part of the season. But right now all that's water under the bridge in that this team got to compete with what they got. I think a lot of people have been hard on couple of these kids lately like Duffey and Rogers. Both these guys have been used a lot put in some very high leverage positions some games to pitching more than one inning to piece a game together. I think they are worn down some mentally and physically and need some rest because neither one of these guys have gone through whole season before and have been used to this degree there's learning curve. Matter a fact pretty much whole relief staff has little experience of going through whole season. I lack confidence in several of these relievers but I have seen them do what is expected of them also. The ones they take to playoffs will depend on coaches and what type of game plan they are going to try implement. I have wondered about Perkins why they haven't used him a little more recently because they are going to need another left hand specialist to get left hand bat or two out in playoffs and he has experience and has been in high leverage situations. Yankees are going to br tough to beat in there park because its hard to keep the ball in park because of small size which there team is built to hit in that park. My guess is the Twins pitching can keep the ball in park they have very good chance to beat them but if they let them hit home runs I don't think the Twins can match them in that type of game. Falvey and Levine work really begins next year they have a very young team that has developed to where they can be contenders for number of years. The thing the Twins need is front line pitching to be added to this group of players for next several years. They need at least one to two starting pitchers add to their pitching staff plus they need closer plus at least one other relief pitcher to fill out their pitching staff. They may have relief help in the minors but starting pitching looks to be at least another year away before they will have them up to big leagues. My guess will be they will need to find this help through free agency because they are in best of all worlds now they have young and controllable players all way around field with exception of Dozier and Mauer but they don't have to address that unless they want to keep them. This could be very good times for the twins in next few years if we don't have major injury problems with this group of players.

This is modern day baseball this is not football where the domninat team is usually the winner. In baseball a team with flaws can get on winning streak and beat the best teams in short period of time. I am not saying the Twins are going to do this for sure this year but getting the chance opens the door for doing this. Look at last 10 years how many wild card teams have won and got themselves to the world series. Several have won the world series. Don't tell me they didn't have flaws. What infuriates me is this front office has done nothing to help this team down the stretch run. They acquired a pitcher and traded him away in few days plus one of there best bull pen pitchers this shows you how much confidence they have in their team. Second i wonder about Sano whats going on their to me if they were in we would be hearing more why he is not ready to return i get feeling again no urgency from the front office. I do have respect for this group of players and coaches that are carry this load to get themselves to the playoffs. It could be one and done deal or it could be they get a chance to play deeper in the playoffs. The Twins were one hit away from beating Yankees twice in New York this week and that all it takes to get into the playoffs. I will tell you this group of players learned something going into New York this week and like they have been all year they have responded well the next time they have been put in similar situations. I just wish more people understood baseball its different sport than football difference between teams and game is way different, player development is different, and rebuilding is way different than football and even poorest teams still beat the very best teams in short game series every so often. Also these chances of getting to playoffs don't come very often and I sure hate to see when teams squander these chances.

I think Escobar is valuable to the Twins in that Sano may not be able to play full season at 3 base without getting hurt or worn down. Escobar has shown he can hit and play well enough at 3 plus he can fill in at other infield positions. I wonder what the Twins are going to do with Sano, Mauer, Vargas next year they do not have the option of sending Vargas back and forth to Rodchester like this year. Also Mauer will be in his final year of his contract and will they be willing to resign him after next year. The next option would be release Vargas but that i will think come back and bite them he has value as desinated hitter and can fill in as first baseman. Also the Twins have log jam now at the outfield positions with Rosario, Buxton, and Kepler making for very young outfield. Do they keep Grossman or bring up some minor league players for the forth outfield position. Same thing will be SS and Second base what do they do there with Dozier, polonco, and Gordon pushing from minor leagues do they sign Dozier or trade what do with other two plus couple they have now for backup. In these decisions is make up for team chemistry and leadership for the future. Like i say this will be how this front office is judged and they have had pretty much a free pass and had added bonus of this team was alot closer to winning than most people thought so people are feeling good about this team. Actually this was season people thought this team could have had last year but fell miserably short of . Also comment that Bill Smith had more to do with this group is somewhat right. I also want to comment Bill Smith was released because he stated that if Twins were compete in near future they would need to add free agent signings because of lack of talent in the system. Ownership didn't want to go that way went back to Terry Ryan who had built the Twins from ground up with very little money and when they were competitive he added players by trading away some of there talent. Never did the Twins add big signee to get over hump when they were competitive when they were in the playoffs. I think this was by design at time put pressure on community to build a new stadium. If they had went out signed big free agent and won a championship there would have been not the push for the stadium. Also i get tired of weak central division since 2006 to last year central division has been in world series 6 times in 11 years so how weak is the division.