Teflon

Roger Erickson?

I'm sorry, they're not going to compete with the '82 class. Hrbek and Gaetti both finished in the top 5 of ROY voting. Laudner, Hrbek, Gaetti, Brunansky and Bush played in nearly 6000 games for the Twins and compiled 86 career WAR. They also played in a combined 71 postseason games and 5 all-star games as Twins. Add to that 4 Gold Gloves. (All Gaetti -Hrbek should have 1 or more) On the pitching side, Frank Viola pitched in 260 games for Minnesota and another 5 postseason games. He pitched in an All-Star Game, won the '87 World Series MVP award and the '88 Cy Young award. He posted 27 career WAR for the Twins. Pitcher Pete Filson was another '82 Twins rookie and would appear in 130 games with a total WAR of 3.5. Gaetti, Brunansky, Viola and another Twins rookie, Jim Eisenreich, would all go on to add significantly to their career totals outside of Minnesota. I don't see this year's group matching those totals. - especially as sticking with the Twins for as many seasons as the '82 group isn't as likely for players in the current era.

I think it depends if the Twins plan to deploy a conventional clockwise rotation or surprise their opponents with a counter-clockwise rotation.

For the Minnesota Twins, games played after the regular season are more often called "Forgone Conclusions,"

As a preliminary interview for the open White Sox front office positions, I asked ChatGPT what it though were the major factors in building a sustained contender in the MLB. (Interesting to hear how TD patrons would rate the Twins on each of these points) "Building a sustained contender in Major League Baseball is a complex and multi-faceted process that requires a combination of factors and strategies. Here are the major factors that the White Sox should consider to build a sustained contender: Talent Development: Developing a strong farm system is crucial. Teams need to invest in scouting, player development, and the minor league system to cultivate a steady supply of young talent. This includes drafting well, signing international prospects, and ensuring that prospects receive quality coaching and development. Analytics and Data Analysis: Modern baseball heavily relies on analytics to make informed decisions regarding player performance, injury prevention, and strategy. Teams need skilled analysts and the technology to collect, process, and interpret data effectively. Front Office Expertise: A competent and forward-thinking front office is essential. This includes a strong general manager, assistant GMs, and analytics staff. A well-structured front office can make wise decisions regarding player acquisitions, trades, and contracts. Financial Resources: While smaller-market teams can compete, financial resources do play a role. Larger budgets allow for more significant player acquisitions and the ability to retain talent. However, wisely allocating those resources is equally important. Scouting and Player Evaluation: A successful team must have excellent scouting to identify talent both in the draft and through international signings. The ability to assess player potential accurately is critical. Health and Injury Prevention: Keeping key players healthy is vital for a team's sustained success. Investing in sports medicine, injury prevention programs, and recovery strategies is essential. Managerial and Coaching Staff: Having a skilled manager and coaching staff is crucial. They set the team's culture, manage player development, and make in-game decisions that can impact the outcome. Team Chemistry: Building a cohesive team with strong chemistry can enhance performance. A harmonious clubhouse can boost morale and lead to better on-field results. Player Development Philosophy: Establishing a clear player development philosophy throughout the organization helps ensure that young talents are groomed consistently to fit the team's long-term goals. Adaptability and Innovation: The ability to adapt to changing circumstances, rule changes, and trends is essential. Teams that embrace innovation, both on and off the field, often have an edge. Market Understanding: Understanding the dynamics of your market and fan base can help in making decisions about ticket pricing, marketing, and revenue generation, which in turn can impact player acquisition. Ownership Commitment: Ownership that is committed to winning and willing to invest in the team's success is crucial. Owners who are engaged and supportive of the team's vision can make a significant difference. Draft Strategy: Teams need to have a well-defined draft strategy that takes into account their current needs, long-term goals, and the available talent pool. Player Retention: Keeping core players through contract extensions and free agency is essential. Losing key players can set a team back significantly. Fan Engagement: Engaging with the fan base through marketing, promotions, and community involvement can help maintain a strong fan following, which can provide both financial support and a home-field advantage. Building a sustained contender in MLB is a dynamic and ongoing process that requires a combination of smart decision-making, long-term planning, and a bit of luck. Teams that consistently excel in these areas are more likely to remain competitive over the years."

I hadn't heard this until recently this but the Brewers are playing the "relocation" chip as leverage for new taxes to finance ballpark upgrades. The White Sox are also talking about relocating. (and selling the team.) Do you think this is just squawking or are their road trips to Nashville in our future?

I wouldn't discount the proficiency of Cleveland's organization to develop players. Dollars spent aren't everything. (Please see the Rays and Orioles whose combined 2023 payrolls are less than the Twins)

The good news - you could have been at the Vikings preseason game tonight and weren't.

Not true. Richie Incognito is literally a nobody.

The Minnesota Twins are to the MLB what the word "knickknacks" is to the English language.

3 is Magic Number

I really like the 3-man booth with Morneau and Perkins. Glen and Justin seem a lot looser and more candid together than when working separately. Disclaimer - I've had 3 beers.

Who's to say the 1987 Twins fans wouldn't have been complaining, too? There was no social media, no internet in 1987 so the only grumbling would have been much less conspicuous - especially as the Twins were failing miserably (29-52) on the road again and again that year. Give the 1987 fans Twitter X and Twins Daily and see if their day-to-day state of annoyance would have been so different.

Last year, 10 AL pitchers received votes from the 30 local market voters in the BBWAA: Justin Verlander, Dylan Cease, Alek Manoah, Shohei Ohtani, Framber Valdez, Shane McClanahan, Shane Bieber, Nestor Cortes, Gerrit Cole and Kevin Gausman. Justin Verlander won the Cy Young receiving all 30 first-place votes. Verlander was 18-4 with a 1.75 ERA He also led the AL in WHIP by around 100 basis points. His 5.7 in pitchers' WAR (as calculated by Baseball Reference) was 4th overall behind Cease at 6.4 (14-8), Ohtani at 6.2, (15-9) and Manoah at 6.0. (16-7) The most similar 2022 AL Cy Young vote-getter comparison to a 2023 Sonny Gray looks like Shane McClanahan who was 12-8 with a 2.54 ERA, 4.1 WAR, a 0.926 WHIP. (2nd in WHIP to Verlander, 6th in Cy Young voting) Framber Valdez, meanwhile, had a higher ERA than McClanahan, a higher WHIP, a lower K rate and a worse SO/W ratio but got 4 more BBWAA writers' votes than McClanahan. (Both had a single 4th place vote, Valdez had 12 5th place votes, and McClanahan got 8 5th place votes) The main things in Framber's favor seems to be the 17 games he won and that he led the AL in innings pitched with 201. (McClanahan finished at 166), This year, there isn't anyone having a Justin Verlander-type season so it's likely that 1st place votes will be split. That should make the overall scores lower and more dispersed. Still, should Gray stay among the leaders in AL pitchers' WAR at season's end, the additional wins that Eovaldi and Eflin have will be enough of an aesthetic differentiator to move Gray down the list. Since Voters have to list 5 pitchers, he'll definitely get some 5th place votes, maybe even 4th. With Ohtani and Cole also in the mix, however, I would be surprised if he gets any 3rd-place votes or higher. Wins are like the bathing suit contest in the pre-2018 Miss America pageant. Miss Arkansas and Miss Ohio may be neck-and-neck after the talent judging, but...

While Sonny Gray has been the best Twins player over the course of the season and has impressive qualitative stats, the Cy Young probably involves some quantitative minimums, as well. Not sure that Sonny gets to 10 wins or that the Twins post a better than .500 record in games that he starts - which is not his fault. Gerrit Cole, Nathan Eolvaldi, and Zac Eflin look a lot more like traditional Cy Young candidates than Gray.

Thanks for the summary, Ted. I appreciate the effort that you and the others put into these recaps.

"It’s very likely we won't see a player like Mauer again for decades." I hold out hopes for Walker Jenkins. That kid looks like he came right out of central casting. Nice piece, Ted.

Here you go:

I take Ted's view, too. A person can't just look at the high contracts at the end of a player's career for the simple reason that star players are so grossly underpaid at the beginning of their careers. You have to look at total production and total compensation like Ted's tweet did. For the whole of his career, Mauer's total salaries equated to only 70% of his estimated value to the Twins. That's quite a bargain.

Thanks, Matt. I really enjoyed reading that.

Of the current MLB teams, I'd give the nod to the Giants for having both the best TV announcers (Duane Kuiper, Mike Krukow) and radio broadcasters. (Jon Miller, Dave Fleming.) Kuiper and Krukow are definite homers and a bit irreverent but you really get a sense of them being buddies and enjoying being at the ballpark together. Miller is, IMO, the classic play-by-play caller with an elegant style, a great voice and a handy trove of facts. It's refreshing to watch/listen to a Giants game and to not be subjected to the usual ex-player stock phrases or regurgitation of the team's game notes. The Giants are also bringing in some interesting new faces on TV with Javy Lopez and Hunter Pence. PS - I really miss Herb Carneal. His voice was as much a part of my memory of summers past as the sound of the lake or the crickets at night.

I'm surprised on the timing of this as the Luplow signing could potentially upstage the Joe Mauer Twins HOF weekend.

Cleveland hasn't exhausted all options until they bring in Lonnie Smith as a special assistant to oversee baserunning.

The Twins and their MLB cohorts need to put more effort into the assigning of phantom injuries to players they want to sit down for a while. Something like, earlobe necrosis or having a vestigial tail removed. PS - Glad to see Keuchel. Not so much that I have high hopes for him, but just because it's something different and therefore interesting.

If modern technology can make a home ear-cleaning tool for the masses with a microscopic ear canal camera, I refuse to believe medical science can't fix Buxton for however many millions the Twins insurance would shell out.. Shut him down now for as long as necessary to surgically repair him and rehab him. I don't want to seem him at all in 2024 if he's going to be the same player he is at present. They invented a unique surgery for Tommy John back in the day, Somebody needs to pioneer the "Byron Buxton" surgery.