Not Greg Gagne

While I'm new to the community, I have been a Twins fan my entire life. I just turned 40 and so the two championship teams laid a foundation that no amount of mediocrity, contraction talk, playoff ineptitude, or geographic distance could fracture. I don't remember much about the '87 team itself, but I do remember collecting the cards in the years that followed and you better believe I remember the Berenguer Boogie. That '91 team though - talk about a perfect storm. If you wanted to dox me, you could dig through the archives of the Post Bulletin for an article on how my dad took my family up from Rochester without tickets for Game 1 and was able to get me in for my 8th birthday. A Twins fan for life was sealed as Gagne hit that ball over the wall in left-center. Now that the offseason is upon us, I thought I would put together my all-time Twins team. The core of this team will be built on heart and surrounded by pieces that I feel would actually fill out a roster for today's game. It's a bit different than taking the best WAR at each position, career leaders, or whatever, but that's the benefit of picking my team. I also want to pick specific years of players rather than just a player in general. I think this will make things a bit more interesting. As for how many parts I'm going to drag this thing out over - like the front office with Jamie Garcia (who won't make the team) things will be made up as they go. I think something like: Outfield, Middle Infield, Corners, Catcher and DH, Starters, Middle Relief, and End of Game will fit the bill. But to kick this off, let's start with some players who didn't make the team. These are guys who, despite being household names and/or fan favorites, did not make my 26-man roster. Some I were bummed about, others surprised, and one other I knew I wasn't having on my team. More on him later. Expanded Roster Slots Kent Hrbek - I really thought I could find a spot for who might be my favorite Twin of all time, but he gets kicked out of the starting lineup pretty easily and then there is just no space for him on the bench for me. Interestingly, I think he fell into the same problem in his career, explaining why he only made one all-star team (in his rookie year). HIs 1984, 1987, and 1988 seasons were monstrous and he should have gotten nods then or at least in each of the following years in the way those things sometimes work out. His grand slam in the 1987 World Series guaranteed his place in Twins lore and I'd argue he's had one of the best post-retirements of any Minnesota athlete this side of Bud Grant. The 1984 Hrbek will be one of the two players I call up when rosters go to 28, so tell Ron Gant he doesn't have to worry about any nasty spills once the dog days are over. A bit slimmer with some speed (3 triples!) but still plenty of pop (.906 OPS & 145 OPS+) and his best defensive showing earned him a second-place MVP finish (behind a Cy Young winning reliever and ahead of another pitcher, what a time to be alive) even though he couldn't manage to be one of four firstbasemen on the all-star roster. Nelson Cruz - I credit Nelson Cruz for the revitalization of the franchise. His production was amazing, and his good vibes extend through today. As an added bonus, he gave the club a Joe Ryan-sized tip on his way out the door! Give me 2019 Bomba Senor Cruz off the bench with good vibes late in our season to get flip the switch on those key moments. Guys I Just Didn't Choose Jim Kaat's 1966 season stands up for those who like good old fashioned counting stats. If you like advanced stats? It's a remarkable season too. One of the best in Twins history. His two standout attributes - even for his time - are how deep he goes into games and his glove. In today's game, and with this roster, I discounted the importance of those attributes enough to allow some less accomplished starters in the squad. Another important factor is that I never got to see him play so there isn't any emotional attachment to him. If this were my dad's team, I'm sure he would be on the roster, but it just so happens that my first experience with Jim Kaat is learning that some announcers are annoying in a perfectly harmless and precisely indescribable way. Sorry Jim. Keep that arm loose just in case David West goes down. Just kidding, Les Straker has that spot on lock down. Brian Dozier's 2016 season was crazy. That he finished only 13th in AL MVP voting is criminal. It was a tough year to win MVP, for sure, especially in that era with the way Dozier hit for average (or not) but look at these two slash lines and guess where they ended up in the MVP voting that year. Player A - .294/.343/.876; Player B - .318/.363/.897. Player A is Manny Machado, who finished fifth in MVP voting that year, while Player B is...checks notes...Mookie Betts who finished second. Dozier slashed .268/.340/.886. Here is an easier way to see how undervalued Dozier was in 2016. PA Hits Walks Singles Doubles Triples Home Runs BA OBP OPS OPS+ FRAA MVP Finish MVP Vote Share Machado 696 188 48 110 40 1 37 0.294 0.343 0.876 130 -2 5 36% Betts 730 214 49 136 42 5 31 0.318 0.363 0.897 133 17 2 74% Dozier 691 165 61 83 35 5 42 0.268 0.340 0.886 134 -5 13 2% Defense matters and Betts was great in 2016, but in my book Dozier made up for half of that difference with his power alone. Even if you don't buy that, the difference between Dozier and Machado comes down to team performance, market size, and some more singles in lieu of walks, which...congrats? Heartstringers I Couldn't Pull The Trigger On Tom Brunansky was no longer a Twin by the time I was old enough to be fan in the sense of collecting cards and following players, but his shadow has been long and I would have loved to have a spot for him on my team. He is the first Twin I remember being my favorite. Tommy Herr did not make the team - amen to that - so we don't need to relive any of those old wounds. Advanced stats don't love Bruno but his OPS+ shows what I consider to be a really solid peak from 87 through the early 90s and his defensive metrics actually look a lot better than his reputation. Greg Gagne is the best defensive shortstop since Louis Aparicio. At least that's how my family remembers it. The managers and coaches who voted for Gold Glove awards during his career disagreed. Who's to say? But as best I can tell Greg Gagne never was a top-whatever for a Gold Glove Award- just amazing. Omar Vizquel didn't win his first until 1994, so that's not really to blame. Did Tony Fernandez really need to win four in a row from 1986-1989? Was Ozzie Guillen that great in 1991 or Cal Ripken amazing in 1992 of 1993? Our guy couldn't snag one? Or even a top something finish among those guys - one couldn't rotate out just once? Let's put it another way - Greg Gagne got MVP vote(s) in 1993 and yet there is no record of him getting a Gold Glove vote. Insane. Also - his deke of Lonnie Smith to save the World Series should have won him something...anything, but alas. Final thing, how annoying was Eric to ruin the pronunciation of Greg's name for everyone everywhere for all time? Dan Gladden - Combine the mullet with the marquee moments and you have a Twins legend. The hustle on that double to lead off the bottom of the 10th is severely underrated and I'll always have a spot for that kind of effort on my team. The trouble is, when you are building an all-time team you need a bit more than that and I just couldn't look around my clubhouse to tell someone they had to go, just because the formative few minutes of my childhood needed a presence there. Pablo Lopez - Call it reverse recency bias, but as good as the feels are around Pablo right now, I just can't put him in the rotation. This season was great and he broke the streak, which will forever be in my heart. Winning that playoff game made me more emotional than I care to admit - or I guess not. The extension looks great and the future is bright. Maybe I can work Pablo into my playoff bullpen or use him if Rick Reed needs to skip a start. The Guy Who Is Not On My Team Because This Is My Team Chuck Knoblauch has a less than kind reputation among some that I would tend to agree with. Despite his key role in the 1991 season and his amazing 1996 season, I actually have fonder memories of Bob Kipper than I do of the man my grandpa called Snoblauch. I still remember the Twins caravan equivalent in the winter of 1991/2 (it had to be because Bob Kipper was there) when I was able to identify Chuck's key personality traits for myself. I'm no expert, but if a 8 year-old walks away from a seconds-long interaction with you months after you win a World Series for his favorite team thinking that you are a jerk, you probably have some things to iron out. But hey, thanks for Milton and Guzman. NEXT UP: OUTFIELDERS

Here is one of my favorite time killers if you want to walk a path down memory lane. Post your score. Rules: First try, no googling except for the spelling of one catcher and one first baseman's name.

Michael Restovich is a big what-if guy for me. Today's game, especially with the universal DH, seems like a great fit for him.

I saw that too. Count me as cynical until I see a player follow through on that kind of talk. Money won't be the deciding factor in the sense that he will have a lot of options where the money is essentially the same and he can choose between two or three areas to have his family stay during the season, and two or three tax treatments for half of his income, and so on. Then there will be the Twins' offer along with all the other mid-market teams. Ecstatic to be proven wrong here.

Too bad Castellanos isn't in a contract year (or Alvarez for that matter). He earned himself a payday that series. Just for giggles, I looked at my favorite trade tool (you know the kind that doesn't take into account real world scenarios and only looks at raw data to determine player value) to see what trades for these guys would look like. Sign me up for Alvarez, even though he is a lefty, everyday. Ryan would be a hard one to say goodbye to, but the idea of essentially flipping Cruz for Alvarez is a pretty sweet (and imaginary) deal. FWIW, Castellanos' contract ($20m/yr for 3 more years) gives him negative value so the Twins would technically over pay by trading Dobnak and Garlick for him - which is a trade I would sign off on. As for potential signings, Teoscar Hernandez would be my top right-handed hitter to go after, but I don't know how realistic that would be. You could also mark me down for interest in a C.J. Cron reunion as a 1B/DH platoon to replace/upgrade Solano and I would be really interested to see if the White Sox decline Tim Anderson's $14m option. That could be a huge "buy low" opportunity where, if you believe in your clubhouse leaders to keep in check whatever was going on in Chicago, at worst you have essentially Willi Castro to platoon with Julien and an All-Star at best.

What's the over/under on the amount of free agents that are back next year? I'd be tempted to set it at 0.5 with the bet essentially being will Taylor re-sign. Gray, Gallo, and Keuchel are a definite "no" and Maeda, Pagan, and Mahle depend on how they like some young arms (which I think they do) and Paddack's health/stuff (which seems fine). Solano is the only other possible returner to me and I think there is enough infield talent elsewhere on the roster to find a platoon 1B/UTL option.

Call me cold-hearted after last night, but I don't see moving Correa any higher than 4th and I think 5th is actually his best use with how much of a psychological impact he has on the Astros at this point. If you need to move him up, I think Kepler has to be the one to fall to 5 with Carlos up to 4. I'm not moving Polo or Lewis down behind Carlos. I am also worried about his double plays coming back. Those were just killer this year. and I'd hate to see two-on, one out with Lewis on deck to "protect" Correa, only to have the inning end before Lewis gets an AB. At 5, just before Wallner, Jeffers and Kirilloff, in whatever order, he provides protection for Lewis and Polonco and can be in place to provide the exclamation point to what the top of the order has started. I like both of those things more than seeing him in the first inning, or whatever else the 3 or 4 spot would do for the lineup.

A lot of what you have asked I answered pretty directly in the OP, but I do want to ask something of the scenario you lay out - Maeda starts Game 1, is out 2, 3, & 4 where Ryan is "forced" to start - If Ryan wouldn't be a candidate to start either of the two games not taken by Lopez or Gray, then why would he be on the roster? I really do think the handwringing over bullpen needs in Games 2 & 3 is overdone. We needed the bullpen for plenty of innings this week, without a day off in between, and still didn't pitch four bullpen arms - Maeda, Paddack, Pagan, & Funderburk - at all. There is plenty of room to not add a sixth starting arm to this roster.

As for Funderburk or Paddack - a second lefty is valuable, especially with Theilbar being less than lights out. Paddack is throwing hard, but I think if Maeda is going to stick with the pen, then Paddack is the redundancy to eliminate. How much different would we feel about Funderburk if Chapman keeps that ball fair? Funderburk is inexperienced but has been really good.

Makes perfect sense, but reminds me a bit of the guys the Twins trotted out for past big games. Pitchers we love, but who were just not up for it. What's the success rate for SPs making their first playoff start on the road, having tripled their career high innings? I still want blood thirsty Maeda Game 1, fireman Maeda Games 4 & 5, and have Paddack throwing cheese the whole series, than have Ober once on the road in Game 1.

That's exactly what I am afraid of. I would hate to see that. I don't want to see Ryan Jeffers on first base with two outs in the 8th down one after we've burned Castro on a PH to have essentially a 6th starter on this roster.

Not in light of starting Maeda in Game 4. Even a possibility you approach to in your fourth item here. Yep. It would solve the things I brought up in my post though. If a bullpen game in Game 4 is a good viable option, then I guess we will have to disagree. Maeda in Houston is part of the point. Maeda in Game 1 to not blow Game 4 is another point. Kenta would be motivated by a chance to start in Houston. Which other game in Houston would you propose he start? Not down on Ryan, just stating a fact that of all the games that Kenta Maeda is likely to pitch it would be in Game 1. In all the situations Kenta Maeda would be brought in, the most likely would be early on when there is something that the starter has gotten into and cannot get out of.

Sounds good. Who is coming off the roster for Ober?

Joe Ryan is going to take the hill, but this is my amicus brief for why Kenta Maeda a the rare "both and" scenario, with pluses, leverage, and best use all around in exchange for only slight and hypothetical downsides. Let's begin. I have to admit that I first thought of Maeda starting in Game 1 as the ultimate revenge spot. Get him the tape from the 2017 World Series and just let him boil right until he has to take the mound, but there is so much more wisdom to starting him in Game 1 than that. I want to start with the downsides. Why don't you give him the ball? Kenta is valuable in the bullpen. Joe Ryan is a good starting pitcher who can start without taking Kenta out of the bullpen. This is true. Kenta Maeda is a valuable arm in the bullpen. He can come and provide valuable innings, particularly if a starter falters early on, to keep the Twins in a game and, potentially, a series. Let's pause here to take a look at the ALDS schedule. Game 1 - 10/7; Game 2 - 10/8; Game 3 - 10/10; Game 4* - 10/11; Game 5* - 10/13. Pablo Lopez and Sonny Gray slot into Games 2, 3, and 5 on full (or more) rest, so it is safe to assume they will take those games. The Twins need to find a starter for a game on October 7 and a likely, but not guaranteed, game on October 11. A big discovery in the calendaring of these games - the Game 1 starter cannot pitch Game 4 on full rest. This leaves a few options available to the Twins. Start Joe Ryan on short rest in Game 4; Use Kenta in Game 4 if the series goes that long; Add Bailey Ober to the series roster as a fourth starter at the expense of someone like Andrew Stevenson; or Use Kenta in Game 1 when he will be freshest. Like the 1991 Twins, let's go worst to first through these options. Using your third-ish best starter on short rest in what will either be a "win or go home" or a "win or go back to Houston" situation is not plan to succeed in my book. To give this option the benefit of the doubt, Game 4 is not guaranteed, so you could plan on a sweep (either way I suppose) and not have to worry about it. Adding a fourth starter and taking off someone who can essentially give you an extra base either via a steal or extra bag on a hit or borderline out is misreading what is more valuable over 3, 4 or 5 games. Maybe you sacrifice a bullpen arm, but who would be worth that? Kenta in Game 4 is the most realistic option that I hope the Twins will do, followed by Chris Paddack and then situational to Jhoan Duran, but I think that is taking an unnecessary chance. What if Maeda (or worse Maeda and Paddack) are needed to mop up some disaster in Game 2 and/or Game 3? Do the Twins shift to Lopez on short rest for 4 and Gray on short rest for 5? Maybe if there was a disaster, their pitch counts didn't get high, you might argue. Would you like to know a situation that removes all of these hypotheticals though? Starting Kenta Maeda in Game 1. One thing that every day from September 29 through October 6 have in common is that Kenta Maeda is guaranteed to not have taken the mound. You cannot say that about the dates leading up to Game 4. Say the Twins start Maeda, what hymnal will the handwringers sing? "Hark, the long-armed bullpen's short!" To quote my own treatise here, "Kenta Maeda is a valuable arm in the bullpen. He can come and provide valuable innings, particularly if a starter falters early on, to keep the Twins in a game and, potentially, a series." Kenta starting Game 1 would put him out of contention for Game 2 and Game 3 (where he would hypothetically be asked to pitch with two full days off between his start and Game 3 with a travel day in there, so it wouldn't happen). If only we could remember a tight playoff series where Pablo Lopez and Sonny Gray pitched two games but the bullpen was needed in plenty of tight spots and Kenta Maeda never had to touch his toes. It would be nice to know we had the guys other than Kenta to get us through those games. On the surface, there does seem to be some circular logic here, arguing against a plan to start Maeda in Game 4 because of a situation where he could be needed in Game 2 or 3 and then advocating for him starting Game 1 because there are other guys to come in in tight spots if those arise in Games 2 and 3 and he is on the shelf. let me say, however: How dare you? You are! I do see a difference, let me explain. The two situations are different. One situation is he literally unavailable - where he started a day or three days ago - the club knows it, the guys know it, and plans are made accordingly. The other situation is that he is slotted to start in a game that could happen, but he could come in if he is needed and the remaining bad options can be dealt with down the road. This leaves the door open for poor decision making, either analytically (like we saw from the other dugout this last series) or emotionally, being reactive to a situation. Further, even if there could be a world where the decision making could be locked-up, there is only one option that allows the entire pitching staff to be fresh when he starts and goes, what will likely be five innings. Starting Kenta Maeda Game 1. A final point for those worried about needing Maeda out of the bullpen. This will now be the third time I've conceded that he can come and provide valuable innings, particularly if a starter falters early on, to keep the Twins in a game and, potentially, a series. I ask you, what games will he most likely be needed in this role? The answer is Game 1 if Joe Ryan comes out and is not sharp and Game 4 if Ryan (or Ober) do the same. Why not use Maeda from the jump in Game 1 when you'll still have him for that role in Game 4? Now we can get to the revenge factor. I imagine most of you have had a situation in your life where you have been treated unfairly. Can you imagine if that unfair treatment prevented you from reaching the pinnacle of whatever your best skill is? I know I certainly couldn't stomach if someone prevented me from writing rambling blog posts that will never have any real impact. The horror! But seriously. The Astros did that to Kenta Maeda, and it has layers. One thing, Kenta didn't get to start. He pitched five innings over four games, with three strikeouts and only one of the batters he was responsible for scoring. That is a good stat line and if you cannot remember the series itself you may think that the revenge factor is motivated by the chance he never got, but that is not the full story. Unfortunately, Maeda is on the wrong side of the second most impactful play of the entire series in terms of championship win probability added. Like a lot of Twins fans, I have a soft spot for the pitcher Kenta Maeda was during the 2020 season. I understand that he is not that pitcher anymore and I don't think he is owed anything for what he has done for the team, however. In fact, the biggest advocate for using the revenge factor can arrive there from a from a pure, cold, corporates talent-sapping viewpoint. Tapping into the passion he must have to prove himself as a starter in that stadium and to that player is a resource that has to be used. Joe Ryan doesn't have that. Kenta Maeda at Target Field doesn't have that. Speaking of Joe Ryan, he is a factor in this as well. Joe is a good pitcher but does anyone else have concerns about home runs in that stadium with that short porch in left field and Joe Ryan on the mound? Let's wrap this up then. Start Kenta in Game 1. Pros: Guarantee he and the rest of the bullpen are at full rest; Remove unnecessary hypotheticals that could blow up Games 4 and 5 Avoid losing a key piece of your bench or bullpen for the entire series; Get a Game 4 starter at full rest; Use Kenta's completely unique history to your advantage; Use Kenta in the game you are most likely to need him anyway, before it gets out of hand. Cons: Lose a valuable long-arm from your bullpen for Games 2 and 3