ND-Fan

If they keep these people plus some pre arb people I figured there salary already around about 69 million for next year before they add any people. Even filling in their needs for next year their salary is going to at least 80 million quite easily. If they sign any major free agents or trade for a proven player their payroll could easily reach 100 million. Which I think where ownership doesn't want to me for next year I believe they want to be around the 80 million mark. This leads me to that the Twins are not going to be in the free agent market except for their basic needs to be filled on the team.

The opportunity of doing this has past the Twins after this year our prospects and young players value has dropped so significantly we could not get anything in trade to improve this club dramatically. Also last year was one time opportunity when we had Marlins doing fire sale trading away good proven talent last time that really happened was with the Marlins about 10 years ago. I don't see any clubs presently looking to tank in the coming year so getting fire sale for prospects is not in offering this coming year unless its us which it could be. The path or plan were on is everything is based on Buxton and Sano and if that fails this coming year look for us to have another gutting of this team for future prospects and hope we are one of the bottom teams to get high draft picks. I believe when ownership changed Front Offices they felt they so farm behind analytical teams they were going to hire leading people to transform this organization to leading analytical team which in theory to many of younger generation made all the sense. I think this has been mistake because now we have lost eye test and people skills of dealing with players from the old school of developing baseball organization. I think we need people from old school that understand analystics but also have the people skills and baseball knowledge to build good organization. I look at this front office there two years here and the gaffs they have made with handling people were aware of is pretty glaring that they lack people skills. I here people they are saying all right things but look at there moves and how they have handled different players. The examples of Escobar learning he was traded on tv and also the manager learning of the trade same way. The repercussion of veteran players voicing concerns of lack of support. To even now the handling of Molitor firing not something I believe that was handled real well and certainly not well received by press or community. I think the teams that were real analytical are now coming back to more balanced approach. My personal preferences is that changes the analytical and metric people have made to baseball may be downfall to grow baseball in the future. These systems grew out by need of some smallest clubs needing to cut costs they have worked to reduce costs and larger clubs seeing this increase their profit margins. The costs are we getting a game that is real boring to watch, the games are getting longer to watch, and we have lost identity of team with players being dealt like chips in poker game. I would like to explain some my complaints with this new era in baseball. The first big change is that we now have team made up more than half pitchers especially if you look at way these young pitchers are moved up and down from the minors. This use of maximum number of pitchers we end up with at least on average 3 to 4 pitching changes per game. This alone has added at least 45 minutes to the game. Second we have lowered the offensive side of game because of this where there is usually very little offense in latter part of the games especially for the elite clubs. Third we have these young pitchers coming in throwing at max velocity for 3 outs or less but were seeing pitchers that tommy john is just the norm and then they wonder why they more injuries and surgeries today. All this because ownership doesn't want to pay for starting pitching so they are making up for this young kids at minimum salaries. Then we have had how better philosophy for hitting for power and so we have seen from offensive side strike out rates beyond belief and players don't care. So we have these at bats that take time because it takes more pitches usually to strike some one out and more time wasted and no action not even seeing the players making defensive play. Then we now have teams destined to fail and clubs that by middle of the year if they are what they determine beyond what they think they can win they just sell of top players for future prospects. This is just another cost cutting program and ensure that you get higher draft pick. The problem nobody seams to care about the fan that wants to come watch the baseball game for team they are rooting for. When team gives up why should fan come out spend good earned money for a team that has already given up. Well everybody tells me you got to look to the future but doesn't help me now to want to watch your club. Even in past when a club traded away there stars it meant then they would bring up their talent from the farm system see how ready they were to be here in the majors. Today that doesn't happen because your burning up service time on these young players but that was way in past people came to ball park to see what the future held for the club. All these changes have been because of economics but baseball continues to loose fans and people which I don't understand why ownership hasn't addressed this because they are gradually killing the goose that laid golden egg. Also because of these changes were not going have labor peace which we had in last 20 years and were going to have real labor fights again hurting baseball. But getting back to the Twins I just don't see this front office being able to accomplish what the Brewers have been doing both teams were about equal last year and we regressed with our moves and they have set themselves up for run at the world series.

I have metric for this front office to measure their performance. I will be interested see where we stand in the division at the end of next season and probably year after that. If Detroit, KC, and Chicago make more progress next year and look like they are closer to contending and all three started after MN in rebuilding. If this happens this Front office will need to be evaluated and changes will need to be made.

That's the optimistic look for next season which could happen for the Twins. We could also see that Buxton still doesn't hit and is defensive wiz but then hurts himself again. Sano can't keep from striking out and can't catch up to fastball from top pitchers and we find he is unable to play 3rd base without rest. Kepler may struggle again and look like he ready to breakout and we finally trade him somebody fixes him like they have with Hicks becomes all star. The starting pitching could be good but with position players not hitting enough were loosing again and front office thinks we should be sellers again so we trade Gibson, Ordorizzi, and Pineda for future prospects and we bring up these young pitchers to finish the season. I expect us to sign of couple one to two year free agents for not to much money to fill in our needs around the infield. Castro our catcher struggles to come back with few times on DL and then at trading deadline we also trade him. We will also be looking for few more DFA to be picked up to fill in during the season. This will be year we hear that were back to rebuild this club for the long term with expectation of next wave prospects to be coming in next couple of years with likes Royce Lewis, Gordon, Krilloff and few of pitching names will be the new saviors for the Twins. I think the optimistic view of the Twins is were just fooling ourselves look at this team we had on the field not many of these players would even crack line up the teams that are in playoffs. Molitor should have been considered manager of year again with team he had and circumstances he had to get 76 win season instead he gets fired. The future for this team is basically at A level in minor leagues and history tell us not many of these players make it. Also the level of money we have to spend is not as high as everyone thinks I willing to bet its closer to 30 million at best. Ownership and business side of the Twins will want to keep payroll more in the 70 to 80 million range not the 110 million range everyone is talking about. The clock is now ticking on this front office because they were given team with talent to win but failure to add talent and continue to develop that talent has put this window in jeopardy and may be vanishing because there belief they had to totally rebuild the whole organization. I may be all wrong but I think this Front office is all theory but no experience on how to put together baseball team and may have missed their chances to win because of this. This next year will determine a lot of this and surely the year after but we fans will have endure this experience.

The problem is that they have nothing to fall back onto if these two don't perform. There's no veterans left to rely on to carry team with some of their solid young players and there's nothing in the system in triple A or double A that can be called up. This leaves us to looking at DFA of young players to try and find somebody that maybe can perform. Also some of the options like Cave the jury are still out on too. The next big problem is that this front office has lost any creditability with players with moves they have made with Buxton and Sano I don't think they have found way to communicate with him I think he should have been here much sooner as player when he was younger and more willing to follow a mentor. I believe Sano was held back because of service time to control his best years but they have missed that period. I think the Twins are soon reaching point where they are sinking ship and all hands want off the ship. I just think were going to be choice of last resort for players around the majors and even then its going to be hard to sign talent. This Front Office may know all the analytics but I believe they lack skills to handling real people and getting players feeling they believe in them and also getting them to believe in what they are trying to get done. That is one thing I remember of Terry Ryan the players respected him even after they moved on they have spoke highly of him. So far I haven't heard this of this front office and silence speaks very loudly on this matter. I believe Ruesse this club is in total tear down mode and they are going to tank next year and year after. We are not going to be in contention unless you look at it from point of if we can be one of the worst to get one of the first draft picks. I am waiting for ownership to address the public come clean this is the plan and if ownership doesn't know this were even worse shape than I thought.

I am not believer in this front office and had grave reservations about them after listening to them from the begining. They are going to always tell you what you want to hear but when they get behind closed doors they are going to just do the opposite. Second i get impression they think they are smarter than anybody else and they know how do everything better. The fact is they have screwed up alot moves in just two years being with the Twins. There player acquitions for most part have been busts. We hear how good they have drafted but in my mind that still to be determined because were several yerar away before these people reaching the majors if they do. Ruese Lewis pick should be good with first overall pick and so far looks to be good pick. Also this front office has all this these theories and new metrics for putting a team together but its another thing putting a team together its more than numbers its meshing of people and getting people to buy into what your doing and believing in what your doing. So far i haven't seen any of that in contrary we have heard some from veterans complaining on giving up and not improving this team. I think ownership got scared two years ago because attendance had dropped from peak of 3.2 million to 1.95 million they were afraid if that continued they would have to start supplementing this franchise until they began winning. What I think they have done is set in place where they may even drop further with this group thinking they needed to modernize there management office and decided to go with these unproven talent but had all these great ideas on how to make great baseball organization. The problem is they got sold a dream by the people who they hired but they were not ready to run a club and second they don't have plan to implement this dream. I think we have not reached bottom yet before ownership knows they have made a mistake but when other teams in their division are rebuilt before them they will finally make a change.

Molitor is not the reason this team has under performed and didn't meet expectations. The majority of the blame rests with this front office and i truly believe they came here with plan is not to build on what was here but they following the Houston plan of blowing whole thing up and tanking in next few years. I think Molitor delayed that plan last year and they tried to milk something out players that were here but in end they just gutted the team. Buxton now was manipulated this year in doing so saving year of service time in hopes the young talent will arrive early to play with him if he pans out if not doesn't change the plan. I just wonder if Pohlads are going to stick with this Front office when fans scream about the loosing and quit coming to the ball park. I also believe the analyticals are going to kill baseball for true fan that has been watching baseball for most of their lives. The game changes they have made the game boring, slow, and taken offense out the game with all metrics being employed. I wonder how long before MLB is going to see this only time fans like this in end of the season in last two rounds of the playoffs it makes something like football. The problem is baseball is season of 162 games nobody wants to watch all this strategy for regular season game especially when it takes 4 hours to do this. Even in the playoffs it only works because now we have teams that are loaded up with talent from middle of season from all the teams that were selling there talent to tank to acquire top young prospects. These final teams can make all these moves because they have the talent. I much preferred it when like our 87 Twins by numbers shouldn't have been there but because of few players they could out perform there counter parts on the other team. I mean we won with two starting pitchers, good set up man and great closer and great performances out 3 or 4 position players. But getting back today I think were just killing baseball for the long term with how game has changed. I think I am right on this because attendance is dropping in baseball and also tv viewership for the regular season is also dropping too the old game was much quicker game and you had teams identified by their star players and today all that is gone.

Front office is just following typical pattern blame the manager for lack of success and bring in there guy. The problem is that there player acquisions were the problem not the manager. I could go on forever about this front office but ownership will have to see for themselves that these people are not ready to lead and develop a team. I think the clock is ticking on this group even the media is starting to wake up to these people. The sad part is how long will it take ownership to come to conclusion that they made a mistake. I am guessing its going to take a while and i as fan will have to endur more seasons of loosing. I betting they are going to have hard time finding players to buy into what ever they are planing and general public will be next to figure it out too.

I read above the Twins have 50 million to spend next year and fact is they don't if they are not competitive team. If they put team out there that they have now from their roster less Mauer, Santana , and Forsythe for this coming season what will there draw be for fans to come watch them. Their leading stars now are Rosario, Berios, and toss up Kepler, Cave, and Gibson. Sano and Buxton will need to prove themselves next year and that will take time win fans back. Season ticket sales are going to drop significantly I predict this coming year. So getting back to money available to spend if the Twins drop say from their 2.4 million attendance to say 1.7 attendance your looking at least 700,000 drop in attendance which would probably mean at least 35 million drop in revenue. So you see now were looking at only 15 million to spend and we have lot of holes to fill in this team and no sure star power to attract people to baseball. Also poorer team will have effect on tv revenue too. Twins ownership will want to keep their return the same so you see money may not be there for what most fans think. If I have learned anything over the years is ownership never takes less it either comes out the players return or the final product the fans see on the field. Baseball ownership is always paid and they like to have high rates of return and also to have their ownership value inflate as well very rarely does ownership ever use there own money to supplement the business. The fact is were in second time of rebuilding because we have had failure to develop high prospects into major league all stars like they were sold to us when they were prospects in the minors. The plans that were made two years ago and even before that have failed with this group of players. Were heading into next year with hope these players can turn it around or were going to see plan change to the next wave of players to come from our prospect list. This means we will see the trading of number of this team by next years trading dead line if no progress has been made. We could see Gibson, Ordorizzi, Pineda, Castro, and several other players traded for future prospects before next season is done. The only thing that will keep them from having season of disastrous losses is the this division is so weak and with unbalanced schedule they are certain to stay away from this. I will just be curios what public opinion will be if my prediction comes true from above because I don't think most MN believe this team is that bad.

If Mauer had gone to New York or even Boston his numbers would have been even better than hitting in MN. In New York especially the new ball park is much smaller than even than the dome would have produced more home runs for Mauer. Boston would have produced more hits for him with green monster. Also i think his career would have been longer there too because they would have rested him more wouldn't have taken beating he got catching for Mn early in his career. Also catching for those clubs he would have been catching better pitching which might have reduced number of fall tips he took over the years. Finally i believe if you add up what he has been paid and what he has produced as player over length of his career he has produced what he has been paid only he was greatly underpaid at the begining and last couple of years he been overpaid. I also believe if he had played for Boston or New York he would be considered first ballot hall of fame player but because he played in MN he will have hard time getting into the hall of fame. He is one of the top catchers in his era of baseball and after recovering from catching he has become good defensive first baseman and still slightly above average major league hitter for average and getting on base but lacks the power usually wanted from first base. The average is down hitting but i believe in last several years overall batting averages have declined with the changes in baseball from how pitchers are used, how teams have changed defensively with shifts and way they pitch to make there shifts more effective. MN should have been greatful to see home grown talent play everyday at home that had elite career in the majors.

The Twins have been difficult to watch this year and how many games have they given away in the late innings. Also the club has been what i say basically non clutch meaning they seem to leave to many on and not getting a big play to keep you watching. Second the pace of the game with their pitchers just drive you crazy instead of watching normal game your watching a game that takes extra 1hr to complete and then they loose it in the end. The 2019 year looks to be long year ahead with no exciting prospects coming to look forward to next year and team gutted of better players of this year there's nothing to look forward too. Buxton and Sano maybe could create some optimism next year but we won't know if they can live up to their billing coming up or we are just in for some more of the same. Starting pitching could be better next year on paper but we have been down that road before and if the Twins aren't in contention this front office will be selling again so we have three pitchers in their last year of team control what do expect. We will see Gibson, Ordorizzi, and Pineda all being traded at the deadline for prospects. We already see their plans in having Austin and Cave to be their additions for next years squad for 1st and outfield couple of players the Yankees just let go without getting anything in return and the Front Office thinks were going to buy that were going to be competitive with rest of baseball what a joke. i don't see us being able to sign any free agents of any quality they won't want to come to club in flux and rebuilding phase for several years. The other alternative is trade some our prospects for players ready to jump to major leagues but way baseball is now that will be costly trades and this Front Office has hard time giving any extra value away to get players so i doubt we will make a major trade where we get young star ready to play at major league level. This leaves with basically this club with few one year deal players to fill in for next year again and with hope they can play better so their record is good enough to draw some fans. They are lucky we play in weakest division in baseball so our record will not be the worst because if we played in NL central we have record like Baltimore. So yes its hard to get excited about baseball for next year and i don't think my mind will change until they start proving they can win consistently and here I have little faith because I don't think this Front Office will ever buy into this group of players so we always be sellers at the trade deadline and looking to the future. At some point they have start to make a stand and believe in what they have put together in the beginning but I think this is what's wrong with this front office.

I don't expect the Twins to sign many free agent players except for one year deals for the coming year they have glaring needs at 1st, 2nd, and 3rd base. This front office is not going to sign any quality free agents in the next years business I believe they are going to see where they are with this group of core players. I could see them signing Berios to longer term contract but I have feeling they will have hard time getting this done. The pitching depth will not be there unless they sign Gibson and Ordorizzi to longer contract is not that deep. I could see both being sold at the trading deadline next year for future prospects. I think were being said up to loose to get best higher pick in the draft. The twins are rebuilding and right now were on mission to have highest draft pick as possible for year after this next year to set up franchise with quality players. The problem with this how do excite people to come out and watch baseball.

I don't understand how you judge the moves the Twins made this summer and fall have improved this team for next year. We gutted the 40 man roster and just added players that other organizations had determined didn't fit into their plans or they had better aternatives in their system. The trades for Dozier, Escobar, and Pressely we recieved no prospect higher than advanced A ball. This means were still at less than 50% chance of never seeing these kids in the majors. WE have very few high end prospects in either triple A or Double A that could advance to the majors. Our highest prospect in those levels is now struggling wasn't good enough to be called up this fall in Gordon. Second this gutting has been planed for some time because the proof is how they handled Buxton with his injuries they had plan to save a year of team control long before they made any trades of the above players. If you haven't figured it out were to just go through at least 2 more seasons of 90+ losses to acquire more prospects. They are not going to sign any quality free agents next year it will be low cost one year deal people to just fill out lineup. Gibson, Ordorizzi, and Sano are going to be traded next year with only exception being Sano if he continues to struggle for more Prospects. Any Trades will be for closer prospect ready to majors like might be called up next year and will play the following year. All you people out there that think were going to be contenders next year is a dream. Also for all you Molitor haters with type of team he will have to manage they will have plenty of loosing to base letting him go. I also hate to see what type of club house they will have because there will no thinking of team but wondering if i have a job or where are they going to move me for their next prospect. I like to see what ownership and Dave St.Peter think of this when they are trying to sell tickets in next few years. I could see attendance drop from 2 million mark down to 1.5 million mark pretty easily if the Twins put poor team out there from the begining of spring training with little for fan draw. I am waiting for all you that supported this gutting see your reactions are when we are experiencing poor baseball on the field. I will still be fan always looking for the hope but i am afraid were going to experience what Cub fan experienced for many years utter futility on the field.

I agree the trade dead line should be moved up to June 15 this would discourage clubs from being sellers like they are today. The first reason is that would kill ticket sales for the teams that were sellers like it is today. Second reason would be teams buying would be adding salary for the 75% of the season even if they they were not in contention. Third there would be many more competitive games between clubs because we wouldn't have clubs gutted for last 1/3 of the season. Also with added playoff teams if clubs now having to play against more competitive clubs there would be many more teams with shot of making the playoffs so we have teams within distance of making the playoffs if they got hot at the end of the year. I would think the players association should be in favor of this too because it would mean that clubs would be more aggressive in free agency period because clubs would know it was going to be harder to trade for needs as the season went along. They would also be putting pressure on clubs to bring up younger talent earlier because of needs if they are contending. This would help on service time problem they are having with organizations. The present system is only beneficial to the owners because of lowering there cost for players and keeping service time down. This would be positive for fans and players both i would like to see pressure put on to do this.

I just watched interview with Billy Beane of the A's they were asking him on how he rebuilds and his answer may shock some of you. He doesn't have 5 year plan he said he can't afford it he tries to put a winner together every year and adjust from there. They were talking to him about having 3 last place finishing squads and he was even surprised he had 3 because he thought last years team had done much better finishing strong. The general feel I got from him 5 year plans are to long and to many things can go wrong he is philosophy of trying to win as soon as you can. I look at his club he gone from contender to being as poor as were Twins to being a contender again while the Twins have been floundering on putting a 5 year plan together. I am seeing same things with Yankees, Phillies, Arizona, Colorado, and number of other clubs they have rebuilt themselves quickly to win while were on this long term track to rebuild. The questions that need to be asked is why is it these teams farm systems seem to restock so quickly with high end talent where it takes us years to acquire this talent. We sure not spending at the big league level on player talent so what gives do we not spend money signing players like these other clubs must do. Also another point with the A's is that if they are win now mode they value there 40 man roster more than total minor league system saying they use minor league system like cash they improve their roster with prospects and when things don't go as plan they sell pieces that don't fit there roster for minor leaguers to improve their cash position again to trade for people improve their roster again. I am not sure this would work for us but I like idea they want to win now not in future with prospects. In baseball planning to win in the future is pretty shaky because there are too many variables of what can happen to your players plus you don't where or how other teams may be playing when your planning to be a winner. I believe in 2000's we should have signed a player or two that could have given us edge to be winner instead they went with minimum to just win the division or the wild card. Especially when we finally got to playoffs we hurt and worn down from race to just win a playoff spot. I also think last year we had a better shot than we got if we had invested in that team with extra piece or two but we were in five year rebuild mode and winning wasn't part of the plan. I keep hearing about the Cubs and Houston how they rebuilt there clubs that is what were doing and I see very little in common with them and where we are now. The difference with us and the Cubs is they had couple of quality drafts and they were able sign end pitching to put together a winning club. They are also big market club they have been and willing to sign high end talent. Houston went with plan of just being terrible to acquire talent through draft and they were able also to sign under old rules international players to also bolster there talent pool. Since then they made the big trade for Verlander to get them a world series title. I also think the way they built there clubs may not be repeatable because of how baseball is changing. All I know now is our 40 man roster is weak not in one area but all area's for the coming year. We have shortages of quality players in infield, Catcher, Starting pitching, and Relief pitching and only place we have what I would call were adequate is at outfield positions but still looking at a lot questions if these players can hit at the major league level. Second is that I doubt we sign any major free agents for the coming year this Front Office has been even more unwilling to sign players to long term deals than previous front office. I could see them trade for 40 man roster player that could be ready to graduate to majors but I again have a feeling they may feel is to costly again so we may not see this. So we will see some more one year signings and another lost year and acquiring of more prospects. Cleveland did similar to this but they had empty stadium and took for ever to get the fans to coming back again. We see how that plays in MN.

I would like to say everyone says that Dozier and Escobar would be gone by end of the season that was true. But this front office new that was coming had all of last year and last off season to sign these players to new contracts and nothing was done on that front. Dozier from reports was hoping to be resigned but nothing was done on that front we waited to last moment to trade him basically got nothing for him. Now top that off were going to need to sign a free agent second baseman for the coming year which I bet when we get it done requires at least 2 year contract and will be inferior player to Dozier. If we had signed Dozier to new 3 year contract this past year we would have second base locked down with above average player until Gordon will have arrived. Same scenario goes for Escobar where we need utility fielder and 3 baseman fill in for Sano which would have given us production while we wait on Sano. These players would not held anybody up in minors because we don't have anybody ready in these roles for at least 2 years and giving 3 year contracts would not have effected the Twins signing there young players. This is case the plan was to tare down this club and only keep Sano and Buxton to go along with people they have drafted. I also think plan was to trade Sano for a high level pitching prospect but that plan has kind of fizzled with what's happen to Sano. This front office duo I also believe they are so confident in their abilities on putting a roster together on the cheap they have lost creditability with the players and agents to getting anything done unless like last spring we had where there were unsigned players. But the problem with this what type of club chemistry do have and a lot of the times there were reasons these players were unsigned. This Front Office likes to talk about the farm system but I look they should have had a good draft last year with overall number 1 draft pick plus there other high draft picks. But I also see where Terry Ryan's last first round pick is being highly toted prospect for next year also. I look at Terry Ryan's first round draft picks they have been good solid picks Buxton, Berios, and Bard in 2012; Stewart in 2013; Gordon in 2014; Jay in 2015; and Kriloff in 2016. Buxton, Berios and Stewart have reached the majors already for the Twins with some success for the first two. Bard reach majors with the Angels but is back in Twins farm system. The difference for bringing in Falvey was modernize the organization and he was good at developing pitching but so far pitching is still work in progress and time will only tell. I would put new Front Office handling players and putting team together at least subpar to very weak. I think they could turn things around but I have very serious doubts on this at this point. Minnesota nice only goes so far and I think there time is running our real quick I wouldn't be surprised by next year were talking about what ownership will be looking for in new Front Office because of fan reaction. I know this short time period but look at the structure of this team for next year and were still looking at least another year before high A prospects are here.

I think that players will need to have get control of their careers between the ages of 26 to 30 if the are going get paid for their most productive years. Clubs under this new analytical management have proven that most productive years are usually in that time spand. Today with way the agreement is clubs have been manipilating the players service time so these players are under team control durning these years. If we get these changes as fans for sure would see younger players on the small market teams much faster than we have seen presently. I also think that another change that would help is moving the trading deadline up to middle of June to first of July forcing clubs to put together team they think they can win with and also requiring them to move players to majors if they think they can win. Second is that teams maybe shouldn't automatically get first draft pick with the worst record because it has put in place teams that want to fail to rebuild quickly. This was fine when we had where all team tried to win each year but this new group of General Managers have been manipulating the system to put together dynasty team for the future. The analytical people have improved statistics of the game but in my mind the changes have made game boring and also less exciting because now they have figured out how to stifle the offense of the game. The game with flaws led to more upsets and cinderella teams would have been great now with expanded playoffs. They need to get back to that where you had more flawed game.

The 40 man roster for the Twins is in my opinion weakest has been in my lifetime for the coming year. There is not one posiitional player based on this year performance i would like to see for next year. Sano and Buxton if they turns things around could be drawing cards, Rosario i like to watch but not one i would drive 300 miles to see and Kepler may become a player i would like to watch in the future. Show me who are future stars on 40 man roster that are not on the 25 man roster right now. We have traded away Dozier, Escobar, Pressley, and bunch of other signees for prospects but not one prospect is above high A meaning we have at least 3 years until help arrives if ever it arrives. Dozier we got basically nothing for him and now were going to have to sign someone to replace him. This is where I see big gap in there plan or should I say It may not be because were heading for failure so they will get a high draft pick. For all you people out there the Twins are not going sign any free agents next year and all this money they freed up will never be spent. They may trade some of there prospects for closer prospect to the majors but here again I betting this doesn't happen here again because the cost will to be high for who ever they are trading with. My guess is we loose about high 90's games next year and year after to continue to build the farm system. Were on rebuild of not winning until 2022 to 2023 when all there current high A prospects have reached and they will have all system filled with three years of loosing. Just be patient they will tell you but by then we will be looking at more than 12 years of loosing with exception of last year and the one two years prior to that. I will then be 65 if I am lucky to see the Twins win again and I am getting worried I may not live long enough to see them be winner again.

This front office group tells the media everything it so desperately wants to hear but this is not what is being put forth to the players and I believe to coaching staffs. Now were hearing for the problem is Molitor which he may have some fault but when we have heard complaints from the players its hasn't been Molitor its been the front office. The problem is this front office has never been sold on this group of players and never has invested in them to win. Yes they did this off season moves but all short term contracts that could be converted into new prospects. Attitude of any organization starts at the top and this has been problem with this team since this front office has been in charge. We have heard it from the problem veterans of Santana and Dozier they have thrown in the towel way to early. When you have teams that are close to competing you need to pursue because things happen where you may never get a chance again. Look at Washington Nationals from 3 to 4 years ago they shut down there pitcher and they were going to get ready in the future with him. The problem they have never been that close again. This team is farther away from being contender now than when they were hired. Everyone raves about their drafts but its way too early to know how those drafts will turn out. Those players are at least 2 to 3 years away from reaching majors. The trades for prospects are same way so we have know idea on the value of the trade until those players either reach the majors or don't. Another thing is I hear is they are following what these other clubs are doing but to be honest I would prefer they were doing their own plan. This club is in total rebuild next year will just be another 90 to 100 loss season sooner people face up to it better understanding where we are as organization. I don't think media and a lot of public realize the team was gutted this summer and will continue on that path next year with Gibson, Pineda , Ordorizzi, and Castro probably will all begone by next August for more prospects. The future of this club rest with prospects at high A level minors.

Front office plan is hard to see at this moment because I just don't see the talent that could produce a tending team. The only way we become even respectable is that Buxton and Sano can produce all star numbers. Even with that there are just to many holes in there line up for the coming year we have right now nobody to fill 1st and second signed for next year. Then add in If Sano can play third or is he heading for DH role and fill in first baseman then we need a third baseman. Catcher is also open because Castro will he be ready and Garver is not ready to be full time catcher. Getting to pitching it looks to me were going to see Gibson gone by August of next year. Probably add Pineada to that list too for more future prospects. At the best for next year would be 78 and 84 team but if I was guessing were looking at 67 to 62 wins and 95 to 100 loss team for next year. That's if we stay healthy for next year add couple of injuries and loss total could climb higher in 100's. This team was gutted this year and only Ruesse of the media has come out stated the truth on this. This is why Twins pulled fast one with Buxton on service time they already know that earliest they can contend again is in 3 years thus giving them Buxton for that year. This front office has wasted two years floundering not knowing what to do because this team showed they could win last year but they were not committed to this group so they didn't invest in them. They got very little in return for this group of players Dozier basically nothing, Escobar maybe one future pitcher, and Pressely couple of pitchers but still years until we see them making impact. Remember when we used say the Twins were nothing more than Triple A club next year probably will be the year with exception of couple players on the team. This is frustrating for somebody that is old because I may never see winner again in Minnesota in my lifetime. My boy who's in his 20's has given up on the Twins he has no faith in this management and I wonder how many more of his age have had same feelings about the Twins. This serious for the Twins because they are loosing generation of fans and will take something special to win them back. Also side note on this if Vikings and Timberwolves should produce champions in next 5 years the Twins will not recover until next generation of kids can see a winning franchise. Ownership better take note they were concerned about their brand 2 years ago they should be sweating bullets now because their brand has even fallen farther now.

I like to say we don't know how this front offices drafts have been yet because were several years away from knowing real results of these drafts. Yes they look good now but alot of things can happen with these new prospects before they arrive at the major league level. Terry Ryan plan if go back look at articles of what he wanted to do was to expand the scouting department to find more talent. This was never done and i believe that business side of Twins also wanted to update analytical side of the organization. I also believe the business side wanted to keep Ryan on as advisor and this is speculation on my part so they would have somebody they could consult on the performance of this new front office. My opinion is of this front office they may have put together very highly competitent analytical department and scouting department but organizational they are struggling to put together strong developmental and organization to deliver quality players to the major leagues. Also with this is understanding of putting team together and signing right players to longterm contracts and getting team that will play together that can compete and win. I think last year was very telling on this they had no clue they had club that could win as made up and if you would have added a few pieces they could have gone further in the playoffs. There actions of selling at trade deadline and even after they did win wild card was to say that Ryan had alot to do with the club wining . Second thing i would address is the loosing at Target field over the last 10 years could have been expected. We had club that had been scouting and finding players that were suited for the dome and artificial turf. Suddenly we had new stadium designed traditionally with grass and out door conditions requiring different skill sets and different players. Also the latter was most common type stadium and so more clubs to compete with to find the elite players that could compete in these stadiums. When they were in the dome there were only handful of clubs looking for some of these same type players. What all Minnesotans hated about dome was what helped give them advantage over alot of other organizations. Think about it experts always picked the Twins worse than they performed because they had players who knew how to win on their home stadium. We had players that were quick and new how to beat ball on the turf to get a hit and these quick players were better at catching ball on that turf. Also we had quirks of stadium of tracking the fly balls, the baggy in right, and also the noise which created excitement for our players. So we had advantage of winning with this stadium now with the new stadium were like all the rest and the advantage goes to them because they have been drafting and finding players that fit this type of stadium. Were just getting begining of players drafted for our stadium and same time we had to redo whole scouting department to change what type of talent were looking for now. There are also many more things that go with this change in stadium. Getting back to front office what we have is theoritcal front office with little experience of putting together a team and is gun shy of signing anybody to longterm contract because of fear of making a mistake. They have offered long term contracts but were none starters for the players and agents so we have not any progress on that front or even signing of any major league free agents except like we did last year bunch of one year deals looks good on paper but put winning team on the field. Busines side of Twins was afraid of Ryans damage to the brand of Twins because of his failures and perception he was old school and behind the times. Now we have had this front office group and i will state they have hurt brand more than Ryan ever did because the product on field does not have any player right now people would be interested coming seeing and style of baseball is dull and boring like somebody else has stated here. Also they have hurt the Twins chances of signing existing players with recent moves and attracting new free agents will be difficult. The times have changed i hear people say money brings players that is true for part of it but other thing is players today want to play on winners or chance of winning and right now we don't have that here. Today's players are different than the past they want to be on winner look at all the major sports elite players are accepting less money to play on club that can win a championship. This Front Office needs to look at itself and better soon start making some changes on how they operate or ownership will be making changes because the bottom line is when attendance falls and tv viewership falls changes usually follows. I willing to bet they will feel the real pressure this coming winter when season tickets sales drop and what fox sports decides on next years telecasts.

Cave has some value as of now because of the Buxton situation and Is young enough to develop into mlb player. Still to early to tell on him but could fill role of 4 th outfielder. Forsythe has only any potential if we sign him and if we do what does it do to players coming up in the system. I could see signing him to one year deal but we have done to much of that these last couple of years and see how that has worked out. We need to start filling some these holes in this line up with long term players if were going to develop into major league team. Its joke what we have on the field now as of team were experimenting with openers haven't called up some players to be looking at them if were going to keep them or let them go or loosing them to rule 5 draft. These people were brought in fix baseball side of the Twins and I never was completely sold on these people because I thought they were always saying what people wanted to here instead of deciding how they were going to put a winner on the field. They are all about getting prospects but baseball is also looking at what you have how to keep most talent on the field and still adding new talent to develop each year. Look at this ball club as it sits now for the coming year show me where the talent is unless Buxton and Sano both become all stars again. Were going into next year with Gibson in last year arbitration so are we going to trade him, Berios at this point at best number 2 starter, Odorizzi pitcher we could fix if anything has gone backwards this year and also in last year arbitration, Mays who we had in the bull pen and now finally getting him to starting, Pineda hurt again and how effective he will be next year, and several of future minor league pitchers of the future but were experimenting with openers instead seeing if can pitch at this level. 1st base is open especially if Mauer doesn't return, 2nd base open with maybe Gordon possibility to fill the position if he's ready yet, SS we have Polanco but maybe he would be more suited for second base, 3 rd base we Sano if he returns in shape and he can learn to hit again or is he our 1st base choice or DH, Catcher we have Castro if he's healthy enough to catch and Garver looks like he can hit but can he field good enough, outfield we have Rosario in left solid player there, Buxton in center but doubts about his hitting, and Kepler in right still developing but still bright spot yet for the Twins, and now Cave as our fourth outfielder. The bull pen needs work if its going to be major league adequate. This is what I see how this team is constructed right now show me how they are going to compete next year. Are they going sign bunch of free agents to fill these wholes and improve batting of this team and next big question to get quality free agents you need a team that is committed to winning. This is going to be hard with last two year track record even when they were contending they gave up and this year they gutted the team not even signing some players that had been examples of what you want as players instead just traded them away. This team is at least 3 years away from even being considered contender again unless there ship comes in Sano and Buxton have great years.

This is not thing for the Twins to be doing this month it should be used on getting players ready to play at the major league level. Also they want to teach them basics of how to win in the big leagues this group of players need to learn how to win at the major league level. The Twins don't have luxury of experimenting on this type of play now were 11 games under 500 and dropping. If this is what this front office is about were in trouble because we need to be concentrating on getting young players better for next season. I look and see that Sox are starting to win and could be getting ready to compete for next year and were still floundering around in this rebuild where this front office has not committed to winning with this group but keep trying to figure what they are going to do. I also think this is one the problems with this group of players the attitude at the top works it way down and when a Front Office is not committed to winning with a group of players the players don't buy into they can win and the players that were committed to winning were traded away. Baseball is mental game and takes hard mentality to be winner in this league and needs to be taught to the younger players and now we just don't have this on this team.

I don't think the Twins spend much on free agency this coming year. They will be looking for utility type player where they can fill the holes for second and third and they will be looking for veteran reliever to spot into the bull pen. I would think they will also might sign Mauer but I thinks that's still a big if. I think most people think were going to compete next year but here's food for thought they may just tear down whole thing again and start over. Meaning if Buxton and Sano have repeat of this year I could see them trading away this core and look to rebuild from scratch with their people but I would say this will be hard one for fans to swallow especially after almost 10 years of loosing. But there are to many ifs for this team to be winner right now.

Finally one of the media questioning this front office and there moves. All i have heard for two years how brilliant this new front office has been. I also hear it from everyone its only been two years but i look around and i see teams that were worse shape than the Twins were two years ago now way ahead of the twins in rebuilding. The A's were just tore down 3 years ago and now they are about push world series champions in playoff spot. Phillies same thing they were starting to rebuild there already back as contender this year. Braves started about same time as the Twins and now they are contender. Also the Twins are giving playing time to none future players why we just start looking at some our talent see if they can make the jump to major leagues. The above mentioned teams have given some there very young talent chance and some have blossumed here major leagues. The Twins seem afraid to bring up their talent see if they can excell and when they do there older still seem to have hard transition. I think it comes down to starting service clock time clicking so we get players who don't get chances when they are young and don't get see what they need to work on . I think clock is now clicking on this Front Office for performance because fans are tired of this silling game they have been playing with moving playerd like pieces in deck cards. I just wonder what it does team chemistry and performance and i am willing to bet the word is out amoung veterans were not place of choice to be signed for free agency. Its also probably why Levine is now talking of trading for talent to improve this team because free agency signings are not going to work here now because of the Twins way of doing business. I just wonder how long rest of media at least start questioning the moves this front office is making and what there plan is because time is growing short with the fan base with this group.