Dakota Native

I am utterly amazed at the debt load the Twins are carrying. I am also wondering how in the world they got here. While I do not plan to analyze the situation, it would appear they tried to buy top-notch talent (for them) but did not drive marketing to support the financial burden of this talent. Now they are reverting to their roots before the effort to contract the team. That is, being incredibly cheap. In all fairness, they have dug a hole and now have no choice but to enjoy living in it. So we are now back into the good old days of Calvin Griffith. He was cheap and no doubt a good role model for the Polads. So, like good ole Cal, the Polands should emulate him and pull a 1981/82 and jettison the expensive veterans and go with the kids from the farm. While we endured some horrible seasons, we did end up with a couple of World Series titles. Is there a future Puckett, Hrbek, or Viola in the minors? If so, bring them up and have them learn on the job. Twins fans have been here before, so level with us and allow us to get behind the program.

In my life, the best single-season shortstop is Zoilo Versailles. He was dynamic and energized a WS team. I thought Christian Guzman would be his successor, but it was not to be. However, his 2001 season is not to be sneezed at. The smartest shortstop is no doubt Carlos Correa. Some of the smart, jaw-dropping plays he made were something to behold. Then again, there was his failure to deliver in the clutch and his ability to ground out into double plays. That said, give me the players who were consistent at the position. Danny Thompson was good for one season (1972). I loved watching him play. Greg Gagne was a joy to watch. Often, we are too hung up on metrics and miss the ability to play the game. What the Giants just did in hiring a college coach as manager should drive the league back to developing players who can play the game and screw the stats. Since I am on a roll, bring in Buck Showalter as the next manager. He knows what he is doing and can tell management to take a hike.

I am deeply disappointed that Johan Santana is not in the Baseball Hall of Fame. For nine years, he was the best pitcher in baseball and a joy to watch.

I’m in the process of finalizing a $6 billion investment in a project in Kansas. During a recent conversation with the investment group, they mentioned they were also close—“at the 10-yard line”—to completing the sale of an American League baseball club. They declined to reveal which team, so I suggested the Minnesota Twins. They immediately responded that the Twins were a poor investment. They laid out several reasons: too much debt, declining attendance, no meaningful TV deal, and Major League Baseball’s tendency to schedule early-season home games in April—often in cold weather—which depresses ticket sales. The only positive they mentioned was the outstanding ballpark. That response hit home for me. I’m originally from Minot, North Dakota, and grew up a passionate Twins fan. I still remember the excitement of the 1965 World Series when our school principal played the games over the intercom. Owning the Twins has always been a dream of mine, but based on this feedback, I’d have difficulty assembling the right investment group if the team is seen as financially unsound. The Pohlad family would likely need to reduce the asking price and absorb some of the debt. It seems Justin Ishbia was wise to walk away. I now live about 50 miles west of Washington, D.C., and make the trip to Baltimore whenever the Twins visit the Orioles. Interestingly, the Twins’ average attendance over the past five years has been comparable to the Orioles’. Camden Yards is a beautiful stadium, but in my view, Target Field is even better. This raises the question: how did the Orioles manage to sell 70% of the team for $1.725 billion while the Twins are considered a poor investment? There is much more to say, but let me know your opinion.