With the Twins deciding to renew the contract of manager Ron Gardenhire for another two years through the 2015 season, many Twins fans have expressed a lot of negative feelings toward the decision. Based on the recent track record of the club, those negative feelings are more than justified.
In an era of "What Have You Done For Me Lately?", the Twins front office has decided to make Memory Lane their permanent home. After three consecutive 96-loss seasons, what fans receive as an explanation for why the current coaching regime remains in tact is nothing short of a campfire story about how good the team was between 2003-2010. Unfortunately, reputation alone doesn't win ball games.
Ron Gardenhire may be the nicest guy around. He may be the best "players' coach" in the game. In fact, he still may be one of the best managers in all of Major League Baseball. But not for this team. Not anymore. In order to succeed in the future, you can't rely on the successes of the past.
The role of the manager can be both undervalued and overhyped at the same time. The sad fact is, managers often take the heat for the failures of a ball club, even if it's not necessarily their fault. Many believed that the 2012 demise of the Boston Red Sox wasn't Terry Francona's doing, but rather that his players quit on him. The same could be said for countless other managers who lost their jobs over the years. But, regardless of the sport, there does come a time where, no matter how nice a guy, and no matter what the past has brought, that a manager or coach's message becomes stale and lost.
To many Twins fans, that time was after 2012. The Twins' front office, however, has a different opinion.
On Monday, while Gardenhire was being notified of his two-year extension, another manager was being given his walking papers. Dale Sveum, the first-time manager for the Chicago Cubs, was fired after two seasons, in which he went 61-101 in 2012, followed by a 66-96 campaign in 2013. Two seasons. That's all it took for the Cubs to pull the trigger. Now, it's understandable to say that Sveum doesn't have near the track record that Gardenhire has with the Twins. But that is really where the comparison should stop.
For the last three seasons, Twins fans have been force-fed the excuse that Gardenhire "hasn't had much to work with." That statement should be an indictment on both the General Manager as well as the Owner, but instead, by most accounts, the Pohlad Family and Terry Ryan are given a pass by most members of the media. Not all...but most. The players Gardenhire "has to work with" are players drafted and/or signed by Ryan and the ownership. These are young, "talented" players we were told a couple of years ago would be the future of this Twins franchise. Players like Aaron Hicks. Players like Chris Parmalee. Players like Kyle Gibson. Now, the sample size for the likes of Hicks and Gibson are only a small portion of the 2013 season, but these were guys we were told would help bring this team to prominence again.
One of the reasons given for the Cubs making the decision to fire Sveum as their manager was that they felt that he hadn't developed their young talent the way they'd expected. Couldn't that very same thing be said for Gardenhire? Now, I have not heard this suggested by anyone else, but I personally feel that Gardenhire is solely responsible for stunting the growth of Aaron Hicks.
How, you ask?
I have absolutely no problem with the Twins bringing Hicks up to start the season on the big-league club. I have no issues making him the starting center fielder, even though he skipped right over Triple-A. Where my issue lies is that an experienced manager, a manager who is touted as one of the best in baseball, should have realized that beginning the season with Hicks as your lead-off hitter, with no real experience against Major League pitching, was something that could mentally hamper the young man from Day 1. In his first 10 games, Hicks was 2 for 43 at the plate, striking out 20 times during that stretch. Something as subtle and simple as positioning someone in the lineup is not something that can be blamed on the player, nor can it be blamed on the GM or the Owner. That falls on the manager.
Had Gardenhire done the responsible managerial thing, he would have started the season with someone more equipped to possibly lead off. Someone like Brian Dozier, whom Gardenhire eventually put into the lead-off spot later on, and watched him flourish. But for 10 games, Hicks struggled, trying to impress out of the gates, when he may have been more comfortable hitting in the bottom third of the order. This seems like a logical thought, but one that seemed to have eluded the manager. There are no doubt other examples.
It could also be debated whether or not Sveum had even less with the Cubs to work with than Gardenhire had with the Twins. But, regardless of the tools in his toolbox, Sveum was let go, while the Twins front office continues to make excuses for their fledgling manager. But as I've said many times, it's important to note that, if you're going to place most, if not all, of the blame on the roster for three straight 96+ loss seasons, then the roster is what brought the Twins to the playoffs six times in nine seasons from 2002 through 2010. But, we don't hear that. We always hear what a great job Gardy has done with this team. We heard during his first few seasons as manager, what a terrific job he did given the payroll he was given. How are the last three seasons any different. One word: Reputation.
As I stated earlier, the manager's role isn't a glorious one most of the time. People continue to say that "Gardy isn't the problem," or that "manager's are overrated." If the latter is truly the case, then why not make a change? Even if he's not the problem, but the role itself is overrated, what harm would it do to bring a new voice into the clubhouse? It's worked for many other teams over the years. Why should the Twins be any different, or be the exception to this rule?
Showing posts with label Justin Morneau. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Justin Morneau. Show all posts
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Twins Miss Another Opportunity To Be Smart At The Trade Deadline
Simply put, the Minnesota Twins dropped the ball.
If you believe that statement refers the fact that the Twins pulled the trigger on only one deal at the Trade Deadline involving Drew Butera, you could possibly be right. If you believe that statement refers to the fact that Justin Morneau wasn't traded at the deadline, you could also possibly be right. However, if you believe that statement refers to the fact that Morneau began the 2013 season WITH the Twins, and wasn't traded during the offseason, you absolutely would be correct!
As the clock ticked down to the 4pm Eastern deadline for non-waiver trades, there was speculation the Twins would deal Morneau, but no trade was finalized. Many in the Twins' media brigade attributed this to the lack of a market for the first baseman. In fact, a few concluded that Morneau's rankings among all Major League first basemen were simply just too low to warrant any substantial value in return. The only thing they all seemed to miss was that, frankly, any deal for Morneau shouldn't have been made at the Trade Deadline, but rather during this past offseason.
Surely, if you look at the numbers, many "experts" were correct. Morneau's numbers simply don't justify much for trade value. There were plenty of teams looking for a bat at the deadline, but few looking to offer up what the Twins were more than likely asking for. But therein lies the problem. The Twins waited far too long to ask for the level of talent they were looking for should they decide to deal Morneau. And, as a result, with visions of Delmon Young in their heads, they missed yet another opportunity to trade a player at their peak value.
After suffering the concussion he did during the 2010 season, it was almost an absolute certainty that Morneau would never again be the same player. With concussions being as prominent in sports as they are today, it truly is difficult to gauge who has come back from them successfully and who has not. Sure, there may have been players in the '70s, '80s, and '90s that suffered concussions and found themselves playing again, probably because they didn't realize what actually happened. But in today's game, there is a much bigger spotlight on them.
If the Terry Ryan were as intelligent a general manager as many Minnesota sports writers believe him to be, he would've realized that we, no doubt, would never see Morneau regain the same form that led him to the 2006 American League MVP. Taking that into account, the moment Morneau began to even resemble a glimpse of his former self, he should've been shopped to potential suiters immediately! That point was after his first full injury-free season since the concussion, which was his 2012 campaign. Knowing a contract would be looming after the 2013 season, Ryan never should have entered this year holding out hope that Morneau would once again become an MVP threat. Instead, he should have attempted to bolster the Twins' already poor pitching staff by finding a taker for Morneau, who at the end of last season ranked 16th in Avg, 13th in OBP, 18th in SLG, 19th in HR, and 16th in RBI among all Major League first basemen. Instead...by not pulling the trigger during the offseason, Ryan went into the Trade Deadline fielding calls about Morneau, who entering the morning of July 31st ranked 13th in Avg, 19th in OBP, 24th in SLG, 29th in HR, and 14th in RBI among first basemen. And to make matters more difficult, he was no doubt trying to trade the 2006 MVP, and not the 2013 shadow of that MVP.
All told, the Twins stand pat at the deadline with their current Major League roster, not addressing any needs, and putting themselves in a position to now have to negotiate a deal with Morneau come the 2013 offseason. Given their current rebuilding mindset, Morneau should've been dealt, if for no other reason than to give his playing time to a younger, up-and-coming potential replacement at first base, whoever that may have been. Instead, Twins fans will have to watch their "power-hitting" first baseman struggle to reach 15 HRs during the final two months of the regular season.
If you believe that statement refers the fact that the Twins pulled the trigger on only one deal at the Trade Deadline involving Drew Butera, you could possibly be right. If you believe that statement refers to the fact that Justin Morneau wasn't traded at the deadline, you could also possibly be right. However, if you believe that statement refers to the fact that Morneau began the 2013 season WITH the Twins, and wasn't traded during the offseason, you absolutely would be correct!
As the clock ticked down to the 4pm Eastern deadline for non-waiver trades, there was speculation the Twins would deal Morneau, but no trade was finalized. Many in the Twins' media brigade attributed this to the lack of a market for the first baseman. In fact, a few concluded that Morneau's rankings among all Major League first basemen were simply just too low to warrant any substantial value in return. The only thing they all seemed to miss was that, frankly, any deal for Morneau shouldn't have been made at the Trade Deadline, but rather during this past offseason.
Surely, if you look at the numbers, many "experts" were correct. Morneau's numbers simply don't justify much for trade value. There were plenty of teams looking for a bat at the deadline, but few looking to offer up what the Twins were more than likely asking for. But therein lies the problem. The Twins waited far too long to ask for the level of talent they were looking for should they decide to deal Morneau. And, as a result, with visions of Delmon Young in their heads, they missed yet another opportunity to trade a player at their peak value.
After suffering the concussion he did during the 2010 season, it was almost an absolute certainty that Morneau would never again be the same player. With concussions being as prominent in sports as they are today, it truly is difficult to gauge who has come back from them successfully and who has not. Sure, there may have been players in the '70s, '80s, and '90s that suffered concussions and found themselves playing again, probably because they didn't realize what actually happened. But in today's game, there is a much bigger spotlight on them.
If the Terry Ryan were as intelligent a general manager as many Minnesota sports writers believe him to be, he would've realized that we, no doubt, would never see Morneau regain the same form that led him to the 2006 American League MVP. Taking that into account, the moment Morneau began to even resemble a glimpse of his former self, he should've been shopped to potential suiters immediately! That point was after his first full injury-free season since the concussion, which was his 2012 campaign. Knowing a contract would be looming after the 2013 season, Ryan never should have entered this year holding out hope that Morneau would once again become an MVP threat. Instead, he should have attempted to bolster the Twins' already poor pitching staff by finding a taker for Morneau, who at the end of last season ranked 16th in Avg, 13th in OBP, 18th in SLG, 19th in HR, and 16th in RBI among all Major League first basemen. Instead...by not pulling the trigger during the offseason, Ryan went into the Trade Deadline fielding calls about Morneau, who entering the morning of July 31st ranked 13th in Avg, 19th in OBP, 24th in SLG, 29th in HR, and 14th in RBI among first basemen. And to make matters more difficult, he was no doubt trying to trade the 2006 MVP, and not the 2013 shadow of that MVP.
All told, the Twins stand pat at the deadline with their current Major League roster, not addressing any needs, and putting themselves in a position to now have to negotiate a deal with Morneau come the 2013 offseason. Given their current rebuilding mindset, Morneau should've been dealt, if for no other reason than to give his playing time to a younger, up-and-coming potential replacement at first base, whoever that may have been. Instead, Twins fans will have to watch their "power-hitting" first baseman struggle to reach 15 HRs during the final two months of the regular season.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Twins Can't Have Cake And Eat It, Too
It's really about time for the niceties to disappear. It's about time for some feelings to be hurt. More importantly, the sooner you get your hands dirty, the sooner you can clean them off again.
These are all things the Twins' front office needs to think about in the coming days if they hope to retain any shred of dignity they have left. Otherwise, they risk losing more than just 100-plus games. They risk alienating a fan base yearning to fill seats in a new ballpark while enjoying a winning culture. They also risk tarnishing a reputation of being a model franchise in a small market, competing annually on a budget far less than their top tier competition.
As many have pointed out in the past, what this organization seems to pride itself on are things like competing, rather than winning. When push comes to shove, the Twins seem to be the ones being pushed, rather than being the ones doing the shoving.
For the greater good of the franchise, sacrifices need to be made. Accountability must be held, at all levels.
In business, when success isn't being had, it is more often than not the line-level employees who hear the ridicule, feel the pressure, and are ultimately blamed for failure. It is often easier to change the pieces than to change the message, or start over. But when a supervisor continues to change those pieces, and the results continue to be the same, at some point, upper management must decide whether it truly is the pieces, or if it's the message being handed down to those pieces.
In the case of the Twins, the pieces have been changed. Players have been brought in, and players have been dismissed. New players have been brought in, and still others have been dismissed. And the fact remains that the results continue to be the same.
It's time for the front office to change the messenger.
For years, we have heard from many within the organization, and many close to it, than Ron Gardenhire is a "players' manager". We've heard that he never gets too up, and he never gets too down. He's an even-keel kinda guy who takes the good with the bad. We've heard that players love to play for him.
Sadly, I don't believe that is still the case.
When success is prominent, as was the case in 2009 and 2010, we hear great things about the coaching staff, mostly from the beat writers, but also from some front office personnel. Case and point, 2010; the year Gardenhire was awarded the Manager of the Year Award. We heard about what a great job Gardy did managing this team. We heard about his ability to "put the puzzle together" and win. We heard that, when Justin Morneau goes down 82 games into the season, on pace to win his second MVP Award, Gardenhire "made the right move" filling the first base hole with Michael Cuddyer, despite the fact that there really wasn't another logical option at that point. We heard about the ability of Gardy and his staff (hitting coach Joe Vavra, and pitching coach Rick Anderson) to "get the most out of their guys." Guys like rookie Danny Valencia (.311, 7 HR, 40 RBI in 85 Games), Delmon Young (.298, 21 HR, 112 RBI), Carl Pavano (17-11, 3.75 ERA), Francisco Liriano (14-10, 3.62 ERA, 201 K), and Kevin Slowey (13-6, 4.45 ERA).
On the flip side, over the last two seasons (2011 and thus far 2012), we've seen the Twins struggle more than at any time in recent memory, including the mid-to-late '90s. During those struggles, if we're being honest with ourselves, we haven't seen "accountability." What we've seen is subtle, quiet finger-pointing from those closest to the situation, from the coaching staff to the beat writers. We've been told things like: players aren't taking good at-bats, guys aren't getting into good positions out in the field, pitchers aren't throwing to their strengths, etc.
The question that should be asked is: If Gardenhire "made all the right moves" in 2010, and Anderson and Vavra were responsible for "getting the most out of their guys" during that season, why have the last two seasons been about the players' lack of discipline at the plate, or inability to focus on the mound, or the fact that the team was hit with a massive injury bug?
It appears evident that Gardenhire and his coaching staff truly feel that the players aren't performing up to the standards expected of them, rather than the fact that perhaps they have lost the ability to get those most out of those players. If even some of the players feel as though the full weight of this losing season is falling on their back, and that the coaching staff is unable to accept their part, then you've already lost them.
In order to show the players that it's not all their doing, the front office needs to show a bit of backbone. A change within the coaching staff must be made. That change, even if it is only one, will tell players that upper management doesn't feel like it's 100% your fault. It will also give players a fresh perspective and a new outlook on the way they approach each game.
At this point, failing to make that change just shows that you're not ready to get rid of some of the pleasantries, that you're still worried about hurting feelings, and frankly, that you'd rather have clean hands and a poor reputation, than dirty hands and optimistic future.
These are all things the Twins' front office needs to think about in the coming days if they hope to retain any shred of dignity they have left. Otherwise, they risk losing more than just 100-plus games. They risk alienating a fan base yearning to fill seats in a new ballpark while enjoying a winning culture. They also risk tarnishing a reputation of being a model franchise in a small market, competing annually on a budget far less than their top tier competition.
As many have pointed out in the past, what this organization seems to pride itself on are things like competing, rather than winning. When push comes to shove, the Twins seem to be the ones being pushed, rather than being the ones doing the shoving.
For the greater good of the franchise, sacrifices need to be made. Accountability must be held, at all levels.
In business, when success isn't being had, it is more often than not the line-level employees who hear the ridicule, feel the pressure, and are ultimately blamed for failure. It is often easier to change the pieces than to change the message, or start over. But when a supervisor continues to change those pieces, and the results continue to be the same, at some point, upper management must decide whether it truly is the pieces, or if it's the message being handed down to those pieces.
In the case of the Twins, the pieces have been changed. Players have been brought in, and players have been dismissed. New players have been brought in, and still others have been dismissed. And the fact remains that the results continue to be the same.
It's time for the front office to change the messenger.
For years, we have heard from many within the organization, and many close to it, than Ron Gardenhire is a "players' manager". We've heard that he never gets too up, and he never gets too down. He's an even-keel kinda guy who takes the good with the bad. We've heard that players love to play for him.
Sadly, I don't believe that is still the case.
When success is prominent, as was the case in 2009 and 2010, we hear great things about the coaching staff, mostly from the beat writers, but also from some front office personnel. Case and point, 2010; the year Gardenhire was awarded the Manager of the Year Award. We heard about what a great job Gardy did managing this team. We heard about his ability to "put the puzzle together" and win. We heard that, when Justin Morneau goes down 82 games into the season, on pace to win his second MVP Award, Gardenhire "made the right move" filling the first base hole with Michael Cuddyer, despite the fact that there really wasn't another logical option at that point. We heard about the ability of Gardy and his staff (hitting coach Joe Vavra, and pitching coach Rick Anderson) to "get the most out of their guys." Guys like rookie Danny Valencia (.311, 7 HR, 40 RBI in 85 Games), Delmon Young (.298, 21 HR, 112 RBI), Carl Pavano (17-11, 3.75 ERA), Francisco Liriano (14-10, 3.62 ERA, 201 K), and Kevin Slowey (13-6, 4.45 ERA).
On the flip side, over the last two seasons (2011 and thus far 2012), we've seen the Twins struggle more than at any time in recent memory, including the mid-to-late '90s. During those struggles, if we're being honest with ourselves, we haven't seen "accountability." What we've seen is subtle, quiet finger-pointing from those closest to the situation, from the coaching staff to the beat writers. We've been told things like: players aren't taking good at-bats, guys aren't getting into good positions out in the field, pitchers aren't throwing to their strengths, etc.
The question that should be asked is: If Gardenhire "made all the right moves" in 2010, and Anderson and Vavra were responsible for "getting the most out of their guys" during that season, why have the last two seasons been about the players' lack of discipline at the plate, or inability to focus on the mound, or the fact that the team was hit with a massive injury bug?
It appears evident that Gardenhire and his coaching staff truly feel that the players aren't performing up to the standards expected of them, rather than the fact that perhaps they have lost the ability to get those most out of those players. If even some of the players feel as though the full weight of this losing season is falling on their back, and that the coaching staff is unable to accept their part, then you've already lost them.
In order to show the players that it's not all their doing, the front office needs to show a bit of backbone. A change within the coaching staff must be made. That change, even if it is only one, will tell players that upper management doesn't feel like it's 100% your fault. It will also give players a fresh perspective and a new outlook on the way they approach each game.
At this point, failing to make that change just shows that you're not ready to get rid of some of the pleasantries, that you're still worried about hurting feelings, and frankly, that you'd rather have clean hands and a poor reputation, than dirty hands and optimistic future.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Poor Starting Pitching May Not Just Affect Record
The Twins salvaged a split of their four-game series with the Yankees on Thursday night. If we're being honest with ourselves, I don't think there many Twins fans who wouldn't have been happy with that outcome going into the series, especially being that it was in New York. It was both the way they lost the two games, along with the pattern displayed throughout the series that is causing a great deal of uneasiness for fans, and quite possibly, for the team itself.
In the four-game series, the Twins scored a total of 22 runs. In their two wins, they demonstrated an ability to string together a few clutch two-out hits, and an ability to be able to put the ball out of the ballpark. Justin Morneau looked healthier than he has in almost two years, and showed signs that he may, in fact, be back. Josh Willingham continued to hit the ball well, extending his season-opening hitting streak to 12 games. And clutch hits from the likes of Jamey Carroll, Chris Parmelee, and Danny Valencia proved that not just the Big Three are capable of making contributions to the offense.
What's troubling is the fact that an average of 5.5 runs per game isn't enough to finish greater than .500. What's concerning is that despite better-than-average bullpen support over this four-game series, the Twins still gave up a total of 23 runs. And what's more concerning than that is that, of the 23 runs allowed, 18 were allowed by the Twins' starting pitchers. Yes, you would expect starters to give up more of the runs seeing as they supposedly pitch more innings in the game, but that wasn't the case here. Twins starters pitched a total of only 17 innings in the series, thanks to two abysmal performances by Francisco Liriano (2.1 innings) and Anthony Swarzak (2.2 innings).
Here are a few other numbers and ranks for the Twins' starters through 12 games of the 2012 season:
29th in Innings Pitched (61.33). MLB Leader = Oakland (83.33). MLB Avg = 72.94
29th in Hits/9 Innings (10.71). MLB Leader = Washington (5.62). MLB Avg = 8.55
28th in ERA (5.87). MLB Leader = Washington (1.65). MLB Avg = 4.02
28th in K's/9 Innings (4.70). MLB Leader = New York Yankees (8.91). MLB Avg = 6.83
What does this mean for the Twins going forward?
The obvious answer is that it means the starting pitching effort has to get better in order to achieve some success this season. Without starters being able to get themselves into the mid-to-late innings consistently, it will spell doom for an untested bullpen. Thus far, the bullpen has performed much better than expected, all things considered.
What's not so obvious is the potential strain on the overall morale of the team if the starting staff isn't able to hold up its end of the bargain.
Last season, although frustrating, it was difficult for the Twins pitching staff to be upset about the level of offensive production shown by the lineup, mixed and matched throughout the year due to injury upon injury to the club's bigger weapons. They had to go out and just try to keep the team in it, hopefully by throwing six or seven innings, giving up only two or three runs, and giving the injury-riddled lineup a chance to sneak out enough hits and runs to pull out the victory.
This season, however, will test the patience of the offense. As displayed during the series with the Yankees, the Twins' lineup is capable of putting up some decent numbers this season. They scored six runs in three of the four games, winning two of them. Definitely an improvement from last year, if we're projecting that success out through the rest of 2012.
But how many times this year will this team put up five, six, or even seven runs, only to have the starting rotation allow teams right back into the game by surrendering four or five runs themselves in as many innings? With the MLB average of runs per game sitting around 4.3, you would expect that five, six, or seven runs would be plenty sufficient to win. But, with the Twins staff giving up an average of 5.5 runs per game, that will prove to be very straining on the team, both in the standings, and in the clubhouse.
The Twins offense, especially some of the younger players, could begin to feel some animosity toward the pitching staff, particularly the starters, if they feel like they're not pulling their weight. Pay attention to this trend throughout the year. If it continues, you could see this Twins team that we've come to know and love, become something we never expected.
***UPDATED***
I started writing this Friday morning, prior to Friday's game against the Rays. Liam Hendriks pitched a 5.2 innings, giving up only one run through 5, before loading the bases in the sixth, and giving up a go-ahead 2-run homer to Evan Longoria. All-in-all, Hendriks allowed only 4 runs, and pitched solidly for most of his outing.
In the four-game series, the Twins scored a total of 22 runs. In their two wins, they demonstrated an ability to string together a few clutch two-out hits, and an ability to be able to put the ball out of the ballpark. Justin Morneau looked healthier than he has in almost two years, and showed signs that he may, in fact, be back. Josh Willingham continued to hit the ball well, extending his season-opening hitting streak to 12 games. And clutch hits from the likes of Jamey Carroll, Chris Parmelee, and Danny Valencia proved that not just the Big Three are capable of making contributions to the offense.
What's troubling is the fact that an average of 5.5 runs per game isn't enough to finish greater than .500. What's concerning is that despite better-than-average bullpen support over this four-game series, the Twins still gave up a total of 23 runs. And what's more concerning than that is that, of the 23 runs allowed, 18 were allowed by the Twins' starting pitchers. Yes, you would expect starters to give up more of the runs seeing as they supposedly pitch more innings in the game, but that wasn't the case here. Twins starters pitched a total of only 17 innings in the series, thanks to two abysmal performances by Francisco Liriano (2.1 innings) and Anthony Swarzak (2.2 innings).
Here are a few other numbers and ranks for the Twins' starters through 12 games of the 2012 season:
29th in Innings Pitched (61.33). MLB Leader = Oakland (83.33). MLB Avg = 72.94
29th in Hits/9 Innings (10.71). MLB Leader = Washington (5.62). MLB Avg = 8.55
28th in ERA (5.87). MLB Leader = Washington (1.65). MLB Avg = 4.02
28th in K's/9 Innings (4.70). MLB Leader = New York Yankees (8.91). MLB Avg = 6.83
What does this mean for the Twins going forward?
The obvious answer is that it means the starting pitching effort has to get better in order to achieve some success this season. Without starters being able to get themselves into the mid-to-late innings consistently, it will spell doom for an untested bullpen. Thus far, the bullpen has performed much better than expected, all things considered.
What's not so obvious is the potential strain on the overall morale of the team if the starting staff isn't able to hold up its end of the bargain.
Last season, although frustrating, it was difficult for the Twins pitching staff to be upset about the level of offensive production shown by the lineup, mixed and matched throughout the year due to injury upon injury to the club's bigger weapons. They had to go out and just try to keep the team in it, hopefully by throwing six or seven innings, giving up only two or three runs, and giving the injury-riddled lineup a chance to sneak out enough hits and runs to pull out the victory.
This season, however, will test the patience of the offense. As displayed during the series with the Yankees, the Twins' lineup is capable of putting up some decent numbers this season. They scored six runs in three of the four games, winning two of them. Definitely an improvement from last year, if we're projecting that success out through the rest of 2012.
But how many times this year will this team put up five, six, or even seven runs, only to have the starting rotation allow teams right back into the game by surrendering four or five runs themselves in as many innings? With the MLB average of runs per game sitting around 4.3, you would expect that five, six, or seven runs would be plenty sufficient to win. But, with the Twins staff giving up an average of 5.5 runs per game, that will prove to be very straining on the team, both in the standings, and in the clubhouse.
The Twins offense, especially some of the younger players, could begin to feel some animosity toward the pitching staff, particularly the starters, if they feel like they're not pulling their weight. Pay attention to this trend throughout the year. If it continues, you could see this Twins team that we've come to know and love, become something we never expected.
***UPDATED***
I started writing this Friday morning, prior to Friday's game against the Rays. Liam Hendriks pitched a 5.2 innings, giving up only one run through 5, before loading the bases in the sixth, and giving up a go-ahead 2-run homer to Evan Longoria. All-in-all, Hendriks allowed only 4 runs, and pitched solidly for most of his outing.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Is The "Twins Way" The Definition Of Insanity?
"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
- Albert Einstein
Technically, Einstein's definition of the word insanity isn't actually correct, however, it does make one think about various situations from time to time. Whether it be for personal or professional reasons, many people actually ask themselves that question when they are not getting the results they're looking for.
Twins fans have been banging their heads against the wall throughout the first week of the 2012 season. Some have been optimistic about what lies ahead, while others are looking at this first week as a harbinger of things to come. But, are the Twins becoming the collective poster child for Einstein's famous definition? The evidence points to a resounding "yes."
The "Twins Way" is something all Twins fans have learned to accept over the last ten years. It started with the "Get To Know 'Em Boys" in the early 2000's and continued with the "Piranhas" a few years later. Those collections of players had distinctive identities. Fundamental play, timely hitting, and consistent hustle were traits those teams shared; traits this 2012 bunch appears (at least early on) to be lacking. So given what transpired last year, and what has been seen early this season, it truly appears this team might be headed down the same path it took in 2011 unless something changes.
That "something" isn't one thing in particular. In the offseason, everyone considers themselves a better General Manager than whomever is holding that title for the Twins, in this case, Terry Ryan. I, myself, am guilty of it, as many of you are. I still contend there was more that could've been done this past offseason with regard to bringing in players to plug a few key holes. Quite frankly, in my opinion, just because the Twins didn't spend their money wisely last year doesn't mean they shouldn't continue to spend money on talent; they just need to be wiser about how they spend it and who they spend it on. Regardless, the roster, at the moment, is what it is, and we know who the key players are. Unfortunately, the biggest issue this year appears to be depth within the pitching department, and that's something the team will have to continue battling through.
The "something" I referred to centers around the offense, and isn't just one thing, but perhaps a series of things. Things meant to potentially alter the insanity that currently is the 2012 Minnesota Twins.
- Switch Up The Batting Order
This is by no means an exact science, but perhaps changing up some of the roles in the lineup might do a few people some good. For starters, it's very evident by the fan reactions of late that the honeymoon period for Joe Mauer being the "Hometown Hero" may have run its course. Fans are expecting much, much more for Joe than they're seeing. Is it possible the responsibility to the team coupled with the expectations of the fans has become a bigger burden on Joe than he's able to take on right now batting third. Although Jamey Carroll has had a few good at-bats thus far, drawing six walks from the two hole, is it possible he might be better suited as the eighth place hitter? Might someone like Danny Valenica see better pitches hitting before Justin Morneau? The answer to all of these questions is...who knows. The point is, at what point does Ron Gardenhire decide to try something a little different in order to potentially get a different result?
My thought here is a simple one. When healthy, Denard Span has been one of the best lead-off hitters the Twins have had in recent memory, so he stays put at the top of the order. Move Carroll out of the second spot, and shift Mauer up. Now, Joe's responsibility has shifted from driving in runs to getting on base, thus allowing him to swing a little more freely. Over his career, speaking strictly percentage-wise, his numbers are better batting second than they are third.
So, with Joe now out of the third spot in the order, who slides in? This may get a few laughs, but I'm being completely serious when I say...Danny Valencia. Valencia has the ability to drive the ball and hit for a bit of power at times. Better yet, he's a right-handed bat separating Mauer and Morneau, which could prove to be potentially beneficial in later inning situations. Plus, anyone who has supervised or managed employees knows that sometimes, you have to empower unrealized talent in order for that talent to realize it in themselves. Give Valencia an opportunity to take the next step in his maturation process as a hitter and as a player.
Similar to Span at the top of the order, no changes need to be made to the four and five spots. If Josh Willingham continues to pound the ball as he has during the first week, Morneau will no doubt begin to see a few better pitches, and will begin to start hitting them hard again. After Willingham, I would move Chris Parmelee into the sixth spot in the order and drop Ryan Doumit to seventh, rounding out the bottom of the order with Carroll and Alexi Casilla. Here's what the lineup card would ultimately look like:
1. Denard Span, CF (L)
2. Joe Mauer, C (L)
3. Danny Valencia, 3B (R)
4. Justin Morneau, DH (L)
5. Josh Willingham, LF (R)
6. Chris Parmelee, 1B (L)
7. Ryan Doumit, RF (S)
8. Jamey Carroll, SS (R)
9. Alexi Casilla, 2B (S)
- Consistency Is Bliss
This one won't take long to explain. Through eight games of the 2012 season, Gardenhire has trotted out six different lineups. Knock on wood, but there are no injuries of any kind to any position players that we're aware of, yet the same lineup has not been brought out to home plate in two consecutive games thus far. Quite honestly, this high school mentality of "everyone needs to play" is a bit absurd at this level of ball. All nine guys I listed above in the ideal lineup should be coming to the ballpark each and every day EXPECTING to be in the starting lineup, regardless of who's on the mound for the opposition. Now, I understand getting guys a day off here and there, but there needs to be some consistency if this thing is ever going to gel.
- Make It Happen On The Bases
In their first eight games of this season, the Twins have stranded a total of 60 runners on base. If we're being realistic, it would've been more had the Twins been able to muster more than two hits in the finale against the Orioles. Ultimately, the offense is relying more on trying to advance runners by just moving station to station. In the past three seasons, the team has ranked no better than ninth in the American League in Stolen Bases, and no better than 18th in all of baseball. With their speed, there is really no reason both Denard Span and Alexi Casilla shouldn't steal at least 30 bases a season. Putting those runners in motion may bring a great deal of risk into the equation, but could also yield a hefty reward to a struggling offense. Think of it this way; the Twins are tied for the Major League lead having grounded into 11 double plays this season. They also lead baseball in the groundout to flyout ratio. If you decide no to straight steal them, utilizing the hit and run could get opposing fielders out of position and open a few holes in the infield. This was the type of hustle exhibited by the original Piranhas, and is something that could prove to be just what the doctor order this season.
Again, these suggestions are probably a little drastic, and maybe even unrealistic. However, there might be something even more unrealistic than my thoughts...
...The idea that Twins fans will continue to support this team if something...anything...doesn't change.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Four Games In Is Hardly Time To Overreact!
Let's be honest...
Had the Twins begun the 2012 season by winning two of their first four games, many fans would've considered that a positive.
Had someone told you the Twins would start the 2012 season 0-4, many fans would've probably said "Yea, that wouldn't surprise me."
Had the Twins jumped out to a 4-0 start on the year, many fans would probably be saying, "Yea, but it won't last. They're not really that good."
So, with the honesty out of the bag, why are Twins fans willing to pack the 2012 season in with 158 games left to play?
There's no doubt that the start of this season has been frustrating for fans. It's difficult to stay positive after what we witnessed last year, and what appears to be a mirror image through four games of this season. But to assume that this team won't turn things around sooner rather than later is a bit negative. And that's coming from someone who has had his share of negative opinions of this organization over the last couple of years.
For many teams and players, it's sometimes difficult to jump out of the gates hot. Often times, when teams do look "hot," it's because the team they're playing isn't. Are Red Sox fans running for the hills because Josh Beckett got lit up in his first outing of the year? On the flip side, we know the Tigers are going to be one of the better American League teams, but are they that good to sweep a team like the Red Sox without so much as batting an eye? The answer to both questions is...no.
What Twins fans need to realize is that things will come. The offense will turn around and begin hitting the ball hard. We've already seen evidence of Josh Willingham being able to drive the ball over the fence, and Justin Morneau has been making solid contact when bat has met ball. We've seen some positive things from a couple of pitchers, namely Glen Perkins and a five-inning stretch from Nick Blackburn. The defense has been a little shaky to start, which we all had hoped would be better. But all-in-all, if people were expecting perfection out of the gates, they might want to re-evaluate their level of baseball knowledge.
The Twins will be fine. We're not expecting a Division Title, are we? We're just expecting them to be better than last year. And that will be the case.
Had the Twins begun the 2012 season by winning two of their first four games, many fans would've considered that a positive.
Had someone told you the Twins would start the 2012 season 0-4, many fans would've probably said "Yea, that wouldn't surprise me."
Had the Twins jumped out to a 4-0 start on the year, many fans would probably be saying, "Yea, but it won't last. They're not really that good."
So, with the honesty out of the bag, why are Twins fans willing to pack the 2012 season in with 158 games left to play?
There's no doubt that the start of this season has been frustrating for fans. It's difficult to stay positive after what we witnessed last year, and what appears to be a mirror image through four games of this season. But to assume that this team won't turn things around sooner rather than later is a bit negative. And that's coming from someone who has had his share of negative opinions of this organization over the last couple of years.
For many teams and players, it's sometimes difficult to jump out of the gates hot. Often times, when teams do look "hot," it's because the team they're playing isn't. Are Red Sox fans running for the hills because Josh Beckett got lit up in his first outing of the year? On the flip side, we know the Tigers are going to be one of the better American League teams, but are they that good to sweep a team like the Red Sox without so much as batting an eye? The answer to both questions is...no.
What Twins fans need to realize is that things will come. The offense will turn around and begin hitting the ball hard. We've already seen evidence of Josh Willingham being able to drive the ball over the fence, and Justin Morneau has been making solid contact when bat has met ball. We've seen some positive things from a couple of pitchers, namely Glen Perkins and a five-inning stretch from Nick Blackburn. The defense has been a little shaky to start, which we all had hoped would be better. But all-in-all, if people were expecting perfection out of the gates, they might want to re-evaluate their level of baseball knowledge.
The Twins will be fine. We're not expecting a Division Title, are we? We're just expecting them to be better than last year. And that will be the case.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
"The Miz's" 2012 Minnesota Twins Predictions
There's really only one direction to go after a dismal 2011, right?
Coming off the franchise's worst season since 1982 (102 losses), there is a lot that Twins fans could feel optimistic about going into 2012. For starters, could it possibly get any worse than last year? Significant injuries to significant players, shaky defense from a typically solid fielding ball club, and sub-par pitching from...well, let's face it...a barely par staff, all led to a barely watchable season of baseball for fans of our local nine. One would hope, however, that the injuries, poor fielding, and inept pitching could not repeat themselves in 2012.
With Terry Ryan back in the saddle, Twins fans should at least be comforted with one thought: At least we'll be competitive, as most Terry Ryan-fielded teams are. The Twins may not win the division, but at least fans won't flock in droves to Stub-Hub to unload their tickets, as appeared to be the case in August and September of 2011.
Knowing that a major part of the Twins' success centers around health, getting through Spring Training appears to have been a major success, with the exception of Scott Baker. Baker has been hampered by elbow problems again this spring, which will keep him out of the rotation for a few weeks, especially given his setback on Thursday evening. Regardless, injuries occur, and are not often something that can be planned around. So, given that fact, for the sake of these predictions, we're going to assume 100% health, or at least what we know now going into the Season Opener against Baltimore on Friday.
1.) The Twins will raise their team run total from 619 runs in 2011 to 725 in 2012.
With the re-additions of Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau into the lineup, coupled with the integration of Chris Parmelee as a full-time first baseman, the Twins will have a solid core of potentially high average hitters. Having two veterans in Denard Span and Jamey Carroll setting the table at the top of the lineup, the team should be able to sustain quite a few more longer-than-normal innings on the offensive end, which will lead to more run-scoring throughout the season. Because of the uncertainty with the pitching staff, however, this won't necessarily translate into more wins for the team. The offense won't be as anemic as 2011, which will no doubt help their cause, but don't be surprised to see the Twins lose a few more 8-7 and 10-9 games this year.
2.) Chris Parmelee will win American League Rookie of the Year.
This would be considered my "bold" prediction of the 2012 season. To be honest, I haven't been this excited for a Twins rookie in quite a long time. During the final few weeks of 2011, Parmelee showed he could no doubt hang with the big boys, if given the opportunity to play. Unfortunately, with Justin Morneau occupying first base, that didn't appear to be something that would happen any time soon. With Ron Gardenhire's decision to move Morneau permanently into the DH spot in 2012 (or at least for the foreseeable future), the path was paved for Parmelee to take the reigns at first base. For a young hitter, he has tremendous vision at the plate, can work the count deep, and can also deposit the ball over the fence. Look for this kid to garner a lot of attention from fans, and the baseball media alike, as the season progresses.
3.) Glen Perkins will become the team's closer by the end of May.
I really want this to be more of a reflection on Perkins' talent as a relief pitcher than a shot at Matt Capps, but unfortunately, that will be hard to justify. Capps will be the team's closer entering the regular season, and all signs should point to him rebounding from a difficult season in 2011, which saw him booed mercilessly by Twins fans. The fact of the matter is, regardless of how great a guy he is, or what he brings to the clubhouse, Capps' style of pitching will become more of a liability than an asset. With a mediocre fastball, and really no "go to" pitch to get hitters out, Capps has decided to bring a split-finger fastball into his repertoire. If, and when, this new pitch begins to falter, Capps will find himself going back to what he's been accustomed to, which is the fastball. As that happens, hitters will be ready, and Twins fans will find themselves pulling their hair out a couple of times in April and May. Perkins will be given the opportunity, and will run with it. By season's end, look for Perkins to have more saves than Capps.
4.) Francisco Liriano will set a career high with 18 wins.
We all know he has the talent. We all know he has the right stuff. It's just time for Frankie to believe it himself, and go out there with confidence. If his spring was any indication, it seems like he may just have figured it out. In 27 spring innings, Liriano had a 2.33 ERA, allowed only 27 hits, surrendered only 5 walks, and struck out 33. Obviously, the hitters one faces during a spring game are potentially much different than one might face in the regular season, so the hits and strikeouts could be a bit deceiving. The walks, however, are something that can be looked at with great excitement. What Liriano appears to have figured out is that the devastating slider he has (and yes, it is nasty) does not need to be thrown three or four times an at-bat. He's begun to realize that locating the fastball and getting ahead of hitters will allow him the ability to drop that slider in when it's actually needed. That type of control is exactly what he needs to be successful. As always with Liriano, only time will tell, but from the signs we're all seeing, this season looks like a promising one.
5.) The Twins will be relevant in the American League Central race through August.
OK, so, this one's a little vague. Having lost 99 games in 2011, many people around baseball, as well as many fans of the Twins locally, have already written the 2012 team off as being too similar to their 2011 predecessor. As I stated early on in this post, assuming they're not struck down by the injury bug once again, this team, although appearing similar, is actually different. The lineup, in my opinion, actually got stronger. With the additions of new left fielder Josh Willingham, and back-up catcher/right fielder Ryan Doumit, Parmelee at first base, and a healthy Mauer and Morneau, this Twins lineup should a.) hit for a higher average, b.) hit more home runs, and thus c.) drive in more runs than the 2011 club. Defensively, the Twins brought in Jamey Carroll to solidify the middle infield with Alexi Casilla. Again, injuries were a huge driving force behind the poor fielding seen during 2011, with many players playing positions they may not have been accustomed to. Lastly, if the pitching staff can keep the team in ballgames, (which obviously sounds very cliche, but true), the team will have a chance to win quite a few more games than last season. My second "bold" prediction is that your Minnesota Twins will actually improve their win total to 86 games (up from 63 in 2011). Unfortunately, 86 wins won't be enough to overtake Detroit in the division this season, although it will be much closer than people think. The Twins will, however, finish second in the AL Central, just ahead of the Cleveland Indians.
All told, the 2012 Minnesota Twins should be much more interesting to watch, be a much more exciting team to cheer for, and frankly, be more of a contending team than many are expecting.
Friday starts it off. As of now, it's a clean slate. 0-0. My prediction: 86-76, second in the American League Central.
Coming off the franchise's worst season since 1982 (102 losses), there is a lot that Twins fans could feel optimistic about going into 2012. For starters, could it possibly get any worse than last year? Significant injuries to significant players, shaky defense from a typically solid fielding ball club, and sub-par pitching from...well, let's face it...a barely par staff, all led to a barely watchable season of baseball for fans of our local nine. One would hope, however, that the injuries, poor fielding, and inept pitching could not repeat themselves in 2012.
With Terry Ryan back in the saddle, Twins fans should at least be comforted with one thought: At least we'll be competitive, as most Terry Ryan-fielded teams are. The Twins may not win the division, but at least fans won't flock in droves to Stub-Hub to unload their tickets, as appeared to be the case in August and September of 2011.
Knowing that a major part of the Twins' success centers around health, getting through Spring Training appears to have been a major success, with the exception of Scott Baker. Baker has been hampered by elbow problems again this spring, which will keep him out of the rotation for a few weeks, especially given his setback on Thursday evening. Regardless, injuries occur, and are not often something that can be planned around. So, given that fact, for the sake of these predictions, we're going to assume 100% health, or at least what we know now going into the Season Opener against Baltimore on Friday.
1.) The Twins will raise their team run total from 619 runs in 2011 to 725 in 2012.
With the re-additions of Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau into the lineup, coupled with the integration of Chris Parmelee as a full-time first baseman, the Twins will have a solid core of potentially high average hitters. Having two veterans in Denard Span and Jamey Carroll setting the table at the top of the lineup, the team should be able to sustain quite a few more longer-than-normal innings on the offensive end, which will lead to more run-scoring throughout the season. Because of the uncertainty with the pitching staff, however, this won't necessarily translate into more wins for the team. The offense won't be as anemic as 2011, which will no doubt help their cause, but don't be surprised to see the Twins lose a few more 8-7 and 10-9 games this year.
2.) Chris Parmelee will win American League Rookie of the Year.
This would be considered my "bold" prediction of the 2012 season. To be honest, I haven't been this excited for a Twins rookie in quite a long time. During the final few weeks of 2011, Parmelee showed he could no doubt hang with the big boys, if given the opportunity to play. Unfortunately, with Justin Morneau occupying first base, that didn't appear to be something that would happen any time soon. With Ron Gardenhire's decision to move Morneau permanently into the DH spot in 2012 (or at least for the foreseeable future), the path was paved for Parmelee to take the reigns at first base. For a young hitter, he has tremendous vision at the plate, can work the count deep, and can also deposit the ball over the fence. Look for this kid to garner a lot of attention from fans, and the baseball media alike, as the season progresses.
3.) Glen Perkins will become the team's closer by the end of May.
I really want this to be more of a reflection on Perkins' talent as a relief pitcher than a shot at Matt Capps, but unfortunately, that will be hard to justify. Capps will be the team's closer entering the regular season, and all signs should point to him rebounding from a difficult season in 2011, which saw him booed mercilessly by Twins fans. The fact of the matter is, regardless of how great a guy he is, or what he brings to the clubhouse, Capps' style of pitching will become more of a liability than an asset. With a mediocre fastball, and really no "go to" pitch to get hitters out, Capps has decided to bring a split-finger fastball into his repertoire. If, and when, this new pitch begins to falter, Capps will find himself going back to what he's been accustomed to, which is the fastball. As that happens, hitters will be ready, and Twins fans will find themselves pulling their hair out a couple of times in April and May. Perkins will be given the opportunity, and will run with it. By season's end, look for Perkins to have more saves than Capps.
4.) Francisco Liriano will set a career high with 18 wins.
We all know he has the talent. We all know he has the right stuff. It's just time for Frankie to believe it himself, and go out there with confidence. If his spring was any indication, it seems like he may just have figured it out. In 27 spring innings, Liriano had a 2.33 ERA, allowed only 27 hits, surrendered only 5 walks, and struck out 33. Obviously, the hitters one faces during a spring game are potentially much different than one might face in the regular season, so the hits and strikeouts could be a bit deceiving. The walks, however, are something that can be looked at with great excitement. What Liriano appears to have figured out is that the devastating slider he has (and yes, it is nasty) does not need to be thrown three or four times an at-bat. He's begun to realize that locating the fastball and getting ahead of hitters will allow him the ability to drop that slider in when it's actually needed. That type of control is exactly what he needs to be successful. As always with Liriano, only time will tell, but from the signs we're all seeing, this season looks like a promising one.
5.) The Twins will be relevant in the American League Central race through August.
OK, so, this one's a little vague. Having lost 99 games in 2011, many people around baseball, as well as many fans of the Twins locally, have already written the 2012 team off as being too similar to their 2011 predecessor. As I stated early on in this post, assuming they're not struck down by the injury bug once again, this team, although appearing similar, is actually different. The lineup, in my opinion, actually got stronger. With the additions of new left fielder Josh Willingham, and back-up catcher/right fielder Ryan Doumit, Parmelee at first base, and a healthy Mauer and Morneau, this Twins lineup should a.) hit for a higher average, b.) hit more home runs, and thus c.) drive in more runs than the 2011 club. Defensively, the Twins brought in Jamey Carroll to solidify the middle infield with Alexi Casilla. Again, injuries were a huge driving force behind the poor fielding seen during 2011, with many players playing positions they may not have been accustomed to. Lastly, if the pitching staff can keep the team in ballgames, (which obviously sounds very cliche, but true), the team will have a chance to win quite a few more games than last season. My second "bold" prediction is that your Minnesota Twins will actually improve their win total to 86 games (up from 63 in 2011). Unfortunately, 86 wins won't be enough to overtake Detroit in the division this season, although it will be much closer than people think. The Twins will, however, finish second in the AL Central, just ahead of the Cleveland Indians.
All told, the 2012 Minnesota Twins should be much more interesting to watch, be a much more exciting team to cheer for, and frankly, be more of a contending team than many are expecting.
Friday starts it off. As of now, it's a clean slate. 0-0. My prediction: 86-76, second in the American League Central.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
The Twins Cannot Repeat History
After reading a great article from Star Tribune sports writer Patrick Reusse ("This has all the earmarks of a lengthy Twins dive"), I realized how familiar this Twins season is becoming. Reusse is spot on with his observations, and quite honestly, it's scary to truly see the similarities between the Twins of the mid-90's and the current iteration.
Hopefully, however, this current version of the Twins, both players and front office alike, will learn from the mistakes of their predecessors, and re-write history.
As fans, we have to believe that what we're seeing in 2011 is nothing more than the anomaly. The debacle that has been the 2011 season is nothing more than a season filled with incredibly bad luck, right? I mean, the injury issues alone couldn't reproduce themselves again in 2012, could they? There's really no way possible that the Twins big guns can't get back to their usual MVP selves, is there?
The problem is that, unless the organization decides to be proactive and do something, what Reusse speaks about will become gospel in 2012 and beyond. So, what can the team realistically do?
For starters, let's assume the major injuries of 2011 resolve themselves this offseason. Justin Morneau, Joe Mauer, and Denard Span will all be back at 100% at the start of Spring Training. Let's just pretend, for a moment, that the Twins are able to re-sign both Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel to solidify the core of the lineup, as well as come to terms with Joe Nathan on a multi-year deal that will enable Joe to end his career with the Twins, as it appears he wants to do. And lastly, let's also say, for argument's sake, that the banged up starting rotation returns from their myriad of arm issues. Assuming all of these things, where are the areas for the Twins to make significant changes to ensure that 2011 was nothing more than a minor speed bump?
One glaring hole needing immediate resolution going into the 2012 season is the middle infield, specifically the shortstop position. After choosing to not bring back J.J. Hardy after the 2010 season in favor of the unknown and unproven Tsuyoshi Nishioka, the Twins took a major step back. Oddly enough, the Twins front office felt Hardy's injury problems were too much to invest another year in, opting instead to let him go in trade to the Orioles. Should they feel the same way about most of the injured 2011 roster, we may be in complete rebuilding mode. In 2009, the Twins made a late-season trade to acquire Orlando Cabrera to bring some veteran stability to an important position, but decided his price tag was too high for 2010, instead signing Hardy. The problematic pattern presenting itself in this case seems that the Twins are unwilling to pay for stability at a very important position. The current options at shortstop are Trevor Plouffe and Nishioka. Plouffe has shown some signs of being a viable offensive solution at short, but his defense leaves quite a bit to be desired. Nishioka needs a major overhaul, both offensively and defensively. Until that happens, "Nishy" should be relegated to nothing but utility duty. Finding a solid veteran shortstop, either through trade or on the free agent market, should be a priority for the Twins to give themselves at least a couple of options going into spring.
Another hole needing attention is that of the bullpen. Middle relief was a major hurdle to overcome for this squad, particularly from the likes of Jose Mijares and Alex Burnett. Combined, the two relievers had an ERA near 5.00, striking out 61 batters while walking 51. Not the poster children for reliability, that's for sure. Mijares lost his late inning specialty role to Glen Perkins, who was seemingly the only bright spot in the bullpen this season. The middle relief roles, both right and left-handed, occupied by Burnett and Mijares respectively, need to be re-cast. Given the free agent market for relief pitchers in 2012, this might have to occur through trade. Regardless of how it gets done, the Twins need to address this pressing issue before pitchers and catchers report in February.
The last area needing to be seriously looked at in order to avoid a long spell of sub-par seasons is one which wasn't considered back in 1993. It's not an easy option to consider, but it should be something at least discussed. That option is a change in the coaching staff. Back in 1993, Tom Kelly was in his seventh full season as the manager of the Twins. It was hard to argue with two World Series titles in five seasons, so it seemed understandable that a change at the helm didn't need to be made right away. The coaches, however, could've possibly been shaken up a bit. With Tony Olivia retiring as the Twins' hitting coach after the 1991 season, Terry Crowley took over. Again, it might've seemed a bit rash to replace Crowley after only two season as the team's hitting instructor. Dick Such remained the team's pitching coach through the 2000 season. It's possible that a change there might have sparked something with the pitching staff, but it's difficult to say.
Fast forward to 2011, and we have a different coaching scenario than we had back in 1993, when the run of losing seasons began for the Twins. Now, we have two members of the coaching staff, hitting coach Joe Vavra, and pitching coach Rick Anderson, who have been in their positions six and eleven years, respectively. With the exception of an increase between 2007 into 2008, the Twins, as a team, have seen declines in batting average, hits, and runs under Vavra. Vavra is the second-longest tenured hitting coach in all of baseball, behind only Mickey Hatcher of the Los Angeles Angels. Similarly, Anderson has the third longest tenure amongst pitching coaches behind Dave Duncan of the Cardinals and Dave Righetti of the Giants. Before things get too out of hand, as they did in 1993, it may be wise for the Twins front office to decide to take the leadership of the team into a different direction.
2012 does not need to be the "end of the world" for the Twins, pun intended. It will only end up that way if the team decides to allow it to happen. Let's hope, for the sake of the players and fans, the decision is to erase 2011 from our memories by repeating the feat of the 1991 team, that being to finish in last place the year before contending for the title.
Hopefully, however, this current version of the Twins, both players and front office alike, will learn from the mistakes of their predecessors, and re-write history.
As fans, we have to believe that what we're seeing in 2011 is nothing more than the anomaly. The debacle that has been the 2011 season is nothing more than a season filled with incredibly bad luck, right? I mean, the injury issues alone couldn't reproduce themselves again in 2012, could they? There's really no way possible that the Twins big guns can't get back to their usual MVP selves, is there?
The problem is that, unless the organization decides to be proactive and do something, what Reusse speaks about will become gospel in 2012 and beyond. So, what can the team realistically do?
For starters, let's assume the major injuries of 2011 resolve themselves this offseason. Justin Morneau, Joe Mauer, and Denard Span will all be back at 100% at the start of Spring Training. Let's just pretend, for a moment, that the Twins are able to re-sign both Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel to solidify the core of the lineup, as well as come to terms with Joe Nathan on a multi-year deal that will enable Joe to end his career with the Twins, as it appears he wants to do. And lastly, let's also say, for argument's sake, that the banged up starting rotation returns from their myriad of arm issues. Assuming all of these things, where are the areas for the Twins to make significant changes to ensure that 2011 was nothing more than a minor speed bump?
One glaring hole needing immediate resolution going into the 2012 season is the middle infield, specifically the shortstop position. After choosing to not bring back J.J. Hardy after the 2010 season in favor of the unknown and unproven Tsuyoshi Nishioka, the Twins took a major step back. Oddly enough, the Twins front office felt Hardy's injury problems were too much to invest another year in, opting instead to let him go in trade to the Orioles. Should they feel the same way about most of the injured 2011 roster, we may be in complete rebuilding mode. In 2009, the Twins made a late-season trade to acquire Orlando Cabrera to bring some veteran stability to an important position, but decided his price tag was too high for 2010, instead signing Hardy. The problematic pattern presenting itself in this case seems that the Twins are unwilling to pay for stability at a very important position. The current options at shortstop are Trevor Plouffe and Nishioka. Plouffe has shown some signs of being a viable offensive solution at short, but his defense leaves quite a bit to be desired. Nishioka needs a major overhaul, both offensively and defensively. Until that happens, "Nishy" should be relegated to nothing but utility duty. Finding a solid veteran shortstop, either through trade or on the free agent market, should be a priority for the Twins to give themselves at least a couple of options going into spring.
Another hole needing attention is that of the bullpen. Middle relief was a major hurdle to overcome for this squad, particularly from the likes of Jose Mijares and Alex Burnett. Combined, the two relievers had an ERA near 5.00, striking out 61 batters while walking 51. Not the poster children for reliability, that's for sure. Mijares lost his late inning specialty role to Glen Perkins, who was seemingly the only bright spot in the bullpen this season. The middle relief roles, both right and left-handed, occupied by Burnett and Mijares respectively, need to be re-cast. Given the free agent market for relief pitchers in 2012, this might have to occur through trade. Regardless of how it gets done, the Twins need to address this pressing issue before pitchers and catchers report in February.
The last area needing to be seriously looked at in order to avoid a long spell of sub-par seasons is one which wasn't considered back in 1993. It's not an easy option to consider, but it should be something at least discussed. That option is a change in the coaching staff. Back in 1993, Tom Kelly was in his seventh full season as the manager of the Twins. It was hard to argue with two World Series titles in five seasons, so it seemed understandable that a change at the helm didn't need to be made right away. The coaches, however, could've possibly been shaken up a bit. With Tony Olivia retiring as the Twins' hitting coach after the 1991 season, Terry Crowley took over. Again, it might've seemed a bit rash to replace Crowley after only two season as the team's hitting instructor. Dick Such remained the team's pitching coach through the 2000 season. It's possible that a change there might have sparked something with the pitching staff, but it's difficult to say.
Fast forward to 2011, and we have a different coaching scenario than we had back in 1993, when the run of losing seasons began for the Twins. Now, we have two members of the coaching staff, hitting coach Joe Vavra, and pitching coach Rick Anderson, who have been in their positions six and eleven years, respectively. With the exception of an increase between 2007 into 2008, the Twins, as a team, have seen declines in batting average, hits, and runs under Vavra. Vavra is the second-longest tenured hitting coach in all of baseball, behind only Mickey Hatcher of the Los Angeles Angels. Similarly, Anderson has the third longest tenure amongst pitching coaches behind Dave Duncan of the Cardinals and Dave Righetti of the Giants. Before things get too out of hand, as they did in 1993, it may be wise for the Twins front office to decide to take the leadership of the team into a different direction.
2012 does not need to be the "end of the world" for the Twins, pun intended. It will only end up that way if the team decides to allow it to happen. Let's hope, for the sake of the players and fans, the decision is to erase 2011 from our memories by repeating the feat of the 1991 team, that being to finish in last place the year before contending for the title.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Twins Face Tough, But Necessary Choices
Since this is a topic I've already covered once within the last month, I'll try to keep it a little short this time around.
With the Twins being shut out for a 13th time this season, there is a question that needs to, not only be asked, but quite frankly, one that needs to be answered sooner rather than later. That question is: Who will be held accountable for the Twins' offensive struggles this season?
I've contended for most of the season, even before the offense went from mediocre to sub-par, that the Twins' front office needs to take a serious look at changing some of the major "players" in order to make a significant change going into 2012. When I say "players," I'm not referring to those that take the field on a day-to-day basis (or a day-to-every-third-day basis, as is the case with one Mr. Mauer). I'm referring to the coaching staff. As the saying goes, the definition of "insanity" is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. With the Twins scoring one run or fewer for the 40th time this season, I would say that constitutes doing the same thing over and over again and waiting for a different result, wouldn't you?
Quite honestly, the three coaches who have the most impact on the team itself are pitching coach Rick Anderson, hitting coach Joe Vavra, and the manager himself, Ron Gardenhire. In any organization, sports or otherwise, when the employees are unable to get the job done, the "bosses" are looked upon to determine if the proper training and coaching was given to allow them to succeed. If the answer is yes, then the employees are let go and replaced. If the answer is no, the boss is deemed to be inadequate, and often times replaced.
Take a department store, for example. When a particular department is not succeeding, the Store Manager would look at the supervisor of that department to determine if he/she has been giving their employees everything they need to be successful. If they have, the Manager would ask the the employee be fired. If the Manager deemed that the supervisor was not providing the best leadership to those employees, then it would be the supervisor who would find him or herself replaced.
What Gardenhire needs to do is take a long, hard look at his staff. That look needs to take into account the overall season's performances, and not allow personal friendships to interfere. After all, this team is actually a "business". What he needs to realize is that, although they may have been great at getting results in the past, their message may now be stale. The results both Vavra and Anderson attained in years past may have ultimately been the pinnacle of what they were capable of attaining. It may just be time for someone else to take over the reigns to take this team a little further going forward.
As with any sport, the goal is to win. Plain and simple. As with many sports, that goal is attained by outscoring your opponents. In football, if a team gives up 40 points, but scores 45, they win the game. In hockey, if a team gives up five goals, but scores seven, guess what? It's still a win. The same theory can, and should, be applied to baseball. Unless you are a team fortunate to have the likes of a Roy Halladay, Justin Verlander, C.C. Sabathia, or a Felix Hernandez at the top of your rotation, the likelihood of you needing only a run or two to outscore your opponent is slim to none.
That being said, it would be imperative for a team like the Twins, with the inconsistent track record of their pitching staff, to put an emphasis on the offensive side of the ball. This season, the Twins have more games of four or fewer hits (20) than any other team in baseball. How have the Twins decided to address this issue thus far? They've decided to fire both Tom Nieto and Floyd Rayford, their Triple-A manager and hitting coach. But those 20 games of four or fewer hits took place at the Major League level, not Rochester. Of those 20 games, the big four of Mauer, Morneau, Cuddyer, and Kubel each played in at least nine, so, to say that the lack of hits came as a result of the injury bug would be a stretch, considering even the "big guns" were unable to hit their ways on base.
The Twins' front office needs to consult Gardenhire and allow him to make the correct decision for the ball club, which is to remove Joe Vavra from his position as the hitting coach of this team. Vavra has served the team well over his almost six years as hitting coach, but as with many things, it's time to move on. If Gardnhire is unwilling to make that difficult decision, or doesn't see it as an option, then perhaps the front office needs to look long and hard and making a different change; that being at the managerial position.
With the Twins being shut out for a 13th time this season, there is a question that needs to, not only be asked, but quite frankly, one that needs to be answered sooner rather than later. That question is: Who will be held accountable for the Twins' offensive struggles this season?
I've contended for most of the season, even before the offense went from mediocre to sub-par, that the Twins' front office needs to take a serious look at changing some of the major "players" in order to make a significant change going into 2012. When I say "players," I'm not referring to those that take the field on a day-to-day basis (or a day-to-every-third-day basis, as is the case with one Mr. Mauer). I'm referring to the coaching staff. As the saying goes, the definition of "insanity" is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. With the Twins scoring one run or fewer for the 40th time this season, I would say that constitutes doing the same thing over and over again and waiting for a different result, wouldn't you?
Quite honestly, the three coaches who have the most impact on the team itself are pitching coach Rick Anderson, hitting coach Joe Vavra, and the manager himself, Ron Gardenhire. In any organization, sports or otherwise, when the employees are unable to get the job done, the "bosses" are looked upon to determine if the proper training and coaching was given to allow them to succeed. If the answer is yes, then the employees are let go and replaced. If the answer is no, the boss is deemed to be inadequate, and often times replaced.
Take a department store, for example. When a particular department is not succeeding, the Store Manager would look at the supervisor of that department to determine if he/she has been giving their employees everything they need to be successful. If they have, the Manager would ask the the employee be fired. If the Manager deemed that the supervisor was not providing the best leadership to those employees, then it would be the supervisor who would find him or herself replaced.
What Gardenhire needs to do is take a long, hard look at his staff. That look needs to take into account the overall season's performances, and not allow personal friendships to interfere. After all, this team is actually a "business". What he needs to realize is that, although they may have been great at getting results in the past, their message may now be stale. The results both Vavra and Anderson attained in years past may have ultimately been the pinnacle of what they were capable of attaining. It may just be time for someone else to take over the reigns to take this team a little further going forward.
As with any sport, the goal is to win. Plain and simple. As with many sports, that goal is attained by outscoring your opponents. In football, if a team gives up 40 points, but scores 45, they win the game. In hockey, if a team gives up five goals, but scores seven, guess what? It's still a win. The same theory can, and should, be applied to baseball. Unless you are a team fortunate to have the likes of a Roy Halladay, Justin Verlander, C.C. Sabathia, or a Felix Hernandez at the top of your rotation, the likelihood of you needing only a run or two to outscore your opponent is slim to none.
That being said, it would be imperative for a team like the Twins, with the inconsistent track record of their pitching staff, to put an emphasis on the offensive side of the ball. This season, the Twins have more games of four or fewer hits (20) than any other team in baseball. How have the Twins decided to address this issue thus far? They've decided to fire both Tom Nieto and Floyd Rayford, their Triple-A manager and hitting coach. But those 20 games of four or fewer hits took place at the Major League level, not Rochester. Of those 20 games, the big four of Mauer, Morneau, Cuddyer, and Kubel each played in at least nine, so, to say that the lack of hits came as a result of the injury bug would be a stretch, considering even the "big guns" were unable to hit their ways on base.
The Twins' front office needs to consult Gardenhire and allow him to make the correct decision for the ball club, which is to remove Joe Vavra from his position as the hitting coach of this team. Vavra has served the team well over his almost six years as hitting coach, but as with many things, it's time to move on. If Gardnhire is unwilling to make that difficult decision, or doesn't see it as an option, then perhaps the front office needs to look long and hard and making a different change; that being at the managerial position.
Monday, August 22, 2011
It's Time To Change It Up A Bit, Ron!
If you've been reading "The Sporting Mind" since I started blogging back in May, you know that I tend to not hold anything back with regard to the Twins. There isn't a team I root for more in sports than the Twins. I consider myself a die-hard fan. The great thing about being a fan is that you're entitled to opinions.
Opinions can be about anything, really. They can be about individual players or they can be about individual plays. They can be about aspects of the team, or just aspects of the game itself. Regardless of what the opinion is, we as fans are entitled to those opinions. They may not be right, they may not be wrong, but what they are is our voice.
As with anyone who follows a team, you have players you really like and some you just don't. If you've been reading this blog for a while now, you know that I was never a huge Delmon Young fan, and I'm definitely not pro-Tsuyoshi Nishioka. I've been very hard on the likes of Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau, but have been very complimentary toward both Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel. That being said, just because I might take issue with players like Mauer and Morneau doesn't mean I don't think either are good ball players, so let me be perfectly clear on that.
Now that I've gotten that out of the way...
As I watch the Twins' season quickly unravel, I start to wonder what the game plan actually is for these next six weeks. The team has been so ravaged by injuries that it's been difficult to get a good grasp on what they actually have going forward. Assuming the news on Monday that the Twins had placed both Kubel and Jim Thome on waivers means that neither will be back with the team next year, and assuming the Twins might not get anyone Major League ready in return should both be dealt, what do they have in store for DH and right field? With Nick Blackburn hitting the disabled list on Monday as well, who might they give an opportunity to replace him in the rotation? And, with the inconsistent play up the middle, might there be other options to fiddle with to try and put the pieces together to make a run next season?
It would be very difficult to get answers to all of these questions in just a few weeks. Realistically, the team has no chance to climb back into the divisional race, which should provide Ron Gardenhire a unique opportunity to experiment a bit with what he does have. As with any company, sometimes it's not so much about the personnel one has, but more about how that personnel is used and where that personnel is placed in order to get the most success from that individual.
So far this season, we've seen Cuddyer playing right field, first base, second base, and even pitch. We've seen Mauer take his first ground balls at first base, as well as his first fly balls in right field. Alexi Casilla made the move from short stop to second base, and Nishioka the reverse. These are the types of alternatives Gardenhire needs to continue exploring. Would Mauer potentially be able to play third base in the event he doesn't catch and Morneau is in the lineup at first? Does Danny Valencia have the necessary range to be a short stop? Might be worth a look.
Another thought would be to juggle the lineup a bit. Looking through all of baseball, it's clear that the major run producers throughout the league find themselves hitting third, fourth, or fifth in their team's lineup. Typically, these spots in the order are reserved for the big guns, the guys that hit the ball out of the park and drive in runs. With the Twins, however, this isn't always the case. Without taking away too much from Joe Mauer, it's evident that he is one of the best contact hitters in all of baseball. Unfortunately for Twins fans, it appears both Mauer and the team are content with a high average, but little "production". This isn't the type of hitter that belongs in the number three spot in the batting order. Again, that's not to say he isn't a great hitter, just not a great hitter for that spot in the order.
Looking at Mauer's numbers this season, and understanding that he was hurt early on, it is a concern going forward, at least for this Twins fan. If you compare the number of extra-base hits Mauer has and the frequency in which he has them to other hitters batting third in their respective lineups, you would see that he falls way behind the average. Joe slugs something other than a single once in every 17.86 at-bats. The top 20 run-producers (RBI's) in the American League average an extra-base hit once every 8.63 at-bats. Seven (7) of those top 20 hit from the third spot in their lineup. Those same 20 guys also average an RBI every 5.50 at-bats. Mauer's average? One RBI every 10.42 at-bats. A high batting average is great, but it doesn't always translate to runs if the majority of those hits are singles.
Taking those numbers into account, it might be worth an extended five-week look for Gardenhire to see what either Cuddyer (an RBI every 6.9 at-bats) or Kubel (one in every 6.62 at-bats) could do in that number three spot in the order, and perhaps move Mauer down to either the fifth or sixth spot in the batting order. If Denard Span is able to come back this year, and the Twins decide to play both Span and Ben Revere in the outfield, and bat the two of them first and second in the order, having either Cuddyer or Kubel hitting third might be a better thing, given their ability to hit more extra-base hits than Mauer. If Span and/or Revere get on base with a single, it's difficult for them to score on a Mauer single, which has been the tendency for Joe this season, which explains his minimal 25 RBI output thus far.
So, let me hear from a few of you out there. What are some other "experiments" you believe the Twins should try over the next few weeks to try and prepare themselves for an offseason of change?
So far this season, we've seen Cuddyer playing right field, first base, second base, and even pitch. We've seen Mauer take his first ground balls at first base, as well as his first fly balls in right field. Alexi Casilla made the move from short stop to second base, and Nishioka the reverse. These are the types of alternatives Gardenhire needs to continue exploring. Would Mauer potentially be able to play third base in the event he doesn't catch and Morneau is in the lineup at first? Does Danny Valencia have the necessary range to be a short stop? Might be worth a look.
Another thought would be to juggle the lineup a bit. Looking through all of baseball, it's clear that the major run producers throughout the league find themselves hitting third, fourth, or fifth in their team's lineup. Typically, these spots in the order are reserved for the big guns, the guys that hit the ball out of the park and drive in runs. With the Twins, however, this isn't always the case. Without taking away too much from Joe Mauer, it's evident that he is one of the best contact hitters in all of baseball. Unfortunately for Twins fans, it appears both Mauer and the team are content with a high average, but little "production". This isn't the type of hitter that belongs in the number three spot in the batting order. Again, that's not to say he isn't a great hitter, just not a great hitter for that spot in the order.
Looking at Mauer's numbers this season, and understanding that he was hurt early on, it is a concern going forward, at least for this Twins fan. If you compare the number of extra-base hits Mauer has and the frequency in which he has them to other hitters batting third in their respective lineups, you would see that he falls way behind the average. Joe slugs something other than a single once in every 17.86 at-bats. The top 20 run-producers (RBI's) in the American League average an extra-base hit once every 8.63 at-bats. Seven (7) of those top 20 hit from the third spot in their lineup. Those same 20 guys also average an RBI every 5.50 at-bats. Mauer's average? One RBI every 10.42 at-bats. A high batting average is great, but it doesn't always translate to runs if the majority of those hits are singles.
Taking those numbers into account, it might be worth an extended five-week look for Gardenhire to see what either Cuddyer (an RBI every 6.9 at-bats) or Kubel (one in every 6.62 at-bats) could do in that number three spot in the order, and perhaps move Mauer down to either the fifth or sixth spot in the batting order. If Denard Span is able to come back this year, and the Twins decide to play both Span and Ben Revere in the outfield, and bat the two of them first and second in the order, having either Cuddyer or Kubel hitting third might be a better thing, given their ability to hit more extra-base hits than Mauer. If Span and/or Revere get on base with a single, it's difficult for them to score on a Mauer single, which has been the tendency for Joe this season, which explains his minimal 25 RBI output thus far.
So, let me hear from a few of you out there. What are some other "experiments" you believe the Twins should try over the next few weeks to try and prepare themselves for an offseason of change?
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Money Isn't The Only Difference Between The Twins And Yankees
With the exception of a few teams in baseball, such as the Red Sox or the Phillies, most teams think of themselves as being different than the Yankees because they don't spend as much money as the Bronx Bombers. The Twins are no exception to that. There are those Twins fans that believe they can't compete against the Yankees because their payroll is twice that of the Twins. The money argument is a stale one, considering the success of teams like the Cardinals and Giants over the last couple of years. The truth of the matter is that it doesn't have as much to do with the amount a player makes, but more with the talent he has and what the team does with it. Right now, it doesn't appear the Twins have done enough with the talent they do have, and continue to feel sorry for what they don't have.
With the Twins now 13 games back in the Central Division, 2011 has quickly become a lost season. Injuries ravaged the team from the start, and made it clear that if they were to succeed this season, it truly would be a total team effort. For the most part, the Twins and their fans tend to be a bunch that lives in the past, rather than a bunch that looks at what's going on in front of them or in the future. You'll hear statements such as, "we've won six division titles under Ron Gardenhire," or, "he's a three-time batting champion," or, "he was the MVP back in 2006."
It can be said that teams like the Twins or like the defending World Series Champion Giants have to make the most with what they have. This is very true. At the same time, teams like the Yankees and Red Sox do the same, making the most of the players they have, and in many cases, making them better than they were. People can complain about them buying all the "great" players, but what matters is what those "great" players do for the Yankees when they're there.
A prime example of this is evidenced by the breakout season of Curtis Granderson. Granderson was always a fantastic player for the Detroit Tigers, but seems to have taken his offensive game to a new level with the Yankees. Upon arriving in New York, Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long worked with Granderson, an already proven big-league hitter, on his stance, calming his movements down at the plate. The result has been noticeable, with Granderson leading the league in Runs, RBI's, and Extra-Base Hits, and currently sitting second in Home Runs.
What the Yankees don't tend to tolerate is mediocrity. If a player isn't getting the job done, the Yankees will find a solution, either through a trade during the season, or the free agent avenue after it. Yes, often times that requires the check book to come out. But, what it does show, to both the Yankee players and their fans, is that the team is willing to do what it takes to win.
When the Yankees come to town, boos can be heard throughout the Twin Cities. Those boos are for Alex Rodriguez. Those boos are for Derek Jeter. Those boos are for Nick Swisher. Those boos are even for Mariano Rivera. Sadly, those boos are incredibly misplaced. OK, maybe the boos for A-Rod are placed pretty well.
When a team continues to allow its star player to average an extra-base hit in every 17.9 at-bats, that should be booed. When a team allows its rookie shortstop to struggle immensely at the plate and in the field without even an attempt to find a better solution, that deserves to be booed. When a team's "power-hitting" first baseman sits out a game because he fouled a pitch off his foot the night before, while his counterpart in the other dugout who fouled three pitches off his feet in one at-bat in that very same game plays, that should be booed. When a team continues to accept mediocre-at-best performances from its starting rotation, as well as pathetic displays from its bullpen during important close games, that needs to be booed.
Just because a team comes into town with the willingness and desire to actually succeed, regardless of the financial cost, they shouldn't be booed. They're doing only what we would want our own team to do, and that's be as competitive as possible. If people think that booing the opposition for wanting to be the best is something that helps their own team, they're mistaken. It really only shows how little respect those people have for the game. If you're booing that, then you're accepting the very mediocrity that your own team continues to march onto the field, which only means that you can expect to continue seeing that level of mediocrity in the future.
But hey...you've won six division titles in the last 10 years, so, it's not that big a deal, right?
With the Twins now 13 games back in the Central Division, 2011 has quickly become a lost season. Injuries ravaged the team from the start, and made it clear that if they were to succeed this season, it truly would be a total team effort. For the most part, the Twins and their fans tend to be a bunch that lives in the past, rather than a bunch that looks at what's going on in front of them or in the future. You'll hear statements such as, "we've won six division titles under Ron Gardenhire," or, "he's a three-time batting champion," or, "he was the MVP back in 2006."
It can be said that teams like the Twins or like the defending World Series Champion Giants have to make the most with what they have. This is very true. At the same time, teams like the Yankees and Red Sox do the same, making the most of the players they have, and in many cases, making them better than they were. People can complain about them buying all the "great" players, but what matters is what those "great" players do for the Yankees when they're there.
A prime example of this is evidenced by the breakout season of Curtis Granderson. Granderson was always a fantastic player for the Detroit Tigers, but seems to have taken his offensive game to a new level with the Yankees. Upon arriving in New York, Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long worked with Granderson, an already proven big-league hitter, on his stance, calming his movements down at the plate. The result has been noticeable, with Granderson leading the league in Runs, RBI's, and Extra-Base Hits, and currently sitting second in Home Runs.
What the Yankees don't tend to tolerate is mediocrity. If a player isn't getting the job done, the Yankees will find a solution, either through a trade during the season, or the free agent avenue after it. Yes, often times that requires the check book to come out. But, what it does show, to both the Yankee players and their fans, is that the team is willing to do what it takes to win.
When the Yankees come to town, boos can be heard throughout the Twin Cities. Those boos are for Alex Rodriguez. Those boos are for Derek Jeter. Those boos are for Nick Swisher. Those boos are even for Mariano Rivera. Sadly, those boos are incredibly misplaced. OK, maybe the boos for A-Rod are placed pretty well.
When a team continues to allow its star player to average an extra-base hit in every 17.9 at-bats, that should be booed. When a team allows its rookie shortstop to struggle immensely at the plate and in the field without even an attempt to find a better solution, that deserves to be booed. When a team's "power-hitting" first baseman sits out a game because he fouled a pitch off his foot the night before, while his counterpart in the other dugout who fouled three pitches off his feet in one at-bat in that very same game plays, that should be booed. When a team continues to accept mediocre-at-best performances from its starting rotation, as well as pathetic displays from its bullpen during important close games, that needs to be booed.
Just because a team comes into town with the willingness and desire to actually succeed, regardless of the financial cost, they shouldn't be booed. They're doing only what we would want our own team to do, and that's be as competitive as possible. If people think that booing the opposition for wanting to be the best is something that helps their own team, they're mistaken. It really only shows how little respect those people have for the game. If you're booing that, then you're accepting the very mediocrity that your own team continues to march onto the field, which only means that you can expect to continue seeing that level of mediocrity in the future.
But hey...you've won six division titles in the last 10 years, so, it's not that big a deal, right?
Monday, August 15, 2011
Bill Smith: Mr. "Better Late Than Never"
There's something to be said for hindsight.
I'm not one to play the stock market, but even when you gamble, knowing when to get out is the biggest challenge. Get out too soon and you may miss a greater gain. Get out too late and you may cost yourself more pain. Get out just in time and you have the ability to reinvest or reallocate.
Sadly, I don't think I would ever want to take Bill Smith to Vegas any time soon!
Back in November of 2007, the Twins and Tampa Bay Rays pulled off a four-player trade, moving Delmon Young and Brendan Harris from Tampa to Minnesota, while sending starting pitcher Matt Garza and starting shortstop Jason Bartlett in the opposite direction. It was a move thought to be somewhat of a new leaf being turned over by the Twins. Delmon Young came with a little bit of baggage, a little bit of an attitude, and a lot of potential. In Garza and Bartlett, the Twins were dealing one of their up-and-coming arms and a proven commodity at short stop. Harris was somewhat of a throw-in to complete the deal, but was a solid utility player in his own right.
The Twins were hoping to catch a little lightning in a bottle with Young...hoping that the potential he had would find its way to the forefront and land them an All-Star caliber left fielder who could provide a little pop from the right side of the plate.
What they ended up getting was an average outfielder with very erratic tendencies at the plate and an even more erratic attitude toward improvement. For an organization that has a reputation for building up young talent through an above-average nurturing environment, bringing in someone with questionable character and a lack of drive isn't exactly the recipe for success. Bill Smith figured he'd give it a shot anyway.
With Monday's trade of Delmon to the Tigers in exchange for next to nothing (a Single-A pitcher and the ever-popular player-to-be-named-later), Smith has done nothing but prove he is that gambler that doesn't know when to leave the table.
In his first three full seasons with the Twins (2008-2010), Young averaged .291 with only 14 home runs and 80 RBI's. Those numbers don't appear to be all that bad, until you realize that those averages were severely aided by Young's above-average 2010, in which he hit .298 with career highs in homers, RBI's, and doubles (21 / 112 / 46 respectively). Without that stellar season, Young's numbers were nothing more than mediocre, given the expectations the Twins had for him.
What Smith should've done was to deal Young after his fantastic 2010 campaign when his value was at its absolute peak. The fact that he assumed Young was still on his way up and that he could expect an even better year in 2011 was absurd thinking. Although Delmon is only 25, this is his fifth full season in the big leagues. If he hasn't gotten it by now, he never will. Coming off his career year in 2010, Young has done nothing but disappoint in 2011, hitting only a mere five home runs and driving in only 33 runs in 309 at-bats. For a team like the Twins, decimated by injuries this season, it would've been nice for a five-year veteran to take the reigns and be the go-to guy on the team. With Delmon, they were just lucky they could pencil him into the lineup.
There's no question that unloading Delmon was the right thing to do. The Twins will be a better team without him. What's sad is that it took Bill Smith this long to realize what he had, or didn't have, for that matter. Even sadder, the fact that we will no doubt see similar returns for the likes of Francisco Liriano and Justin Morneau, since it's pretty evident Smith missed his window for both of them. At least we know one thing: we should be able to fill out the rest of our Single-A roster with what get from those future deals when they happen.
I'm not one to play the stock market, but even when you gamble, knowing when to get out is the biggest challenge. Get out too soon and you may miss a greater gain. Get out too late and you may cost yourself more pain. Get out just in time and you have the ability to reinvest or reallocate.
Sadly, I don't think I would ever want to take Bill Smith to Vegas any time soon!
Back in November of 2007, the Twins and Tampa Bay Rays pulled off a four-player trade, moving Delmon Young and Brendan Harris from Tampa to Minnesota, while sending starting pitcher Matt Garza and starting shortstop Jason Bartlett in the opposite direction. It was a move thought to be somewhat of a new leaf being turned over by the Twins. Delmon Young came with a little bit of baggage, a little bit of an attitude, and a lot of potential. In Garza and Bartlett, the Twins were dealing one of their up-and-coming arms and a proven commodity at short stop. Harris was somewhat of a throw-in to complete the deal, but was a solid utility player in his own right.
The Twins were hoping to catch a little lightning in a bottle with Young...hoping that the potential he had would find its way to the forefront and land them an All-Star caliber left fielder who could provide a little pop from the right side of the plate.
What they ended up getting was an average outfielder with very erratic tendencies at the plate and an even more erratic attitude toward improvement. For an organization that has a reputation for building up young talent through an above-average nurturing environment, bringing in someone with questionable character and a lack of drive isn't exactly the recipe for success. Bill Smith figured he'd give it a shot anyway.
With Monday's trade of Delmon to the Tigers in exchange for next to nothing (a Single-A pitcher and the ever-popular player-to-be-named-later), Smith has done nothing but prove he is that gambler that doesn't know when to leave the table.
In his first three full seasons with the Twins (2008-2010), Young averaged .291 with only 14 home runs and 80 RBI's. Those numbers don't appear to be all that bad, until you realize that those averages were severely aided by Young's above-average 2010, in which he hit .298 with career highs in homers, RBI's, and doubles (21 / 112 / 46 respectively). Without that stellar season, Young's numbers were nothing more than mediocre, given the expectations the Twins had for him.
What Smith should've done was to deal Young after his fantastic 2010 campaign when his value was at its absolute peak. The fact that he assumed Young was still on his way up and that he could expect an even better year in 2011 was absurd thinking. Although Delmon is only 25, this is his fifth full season in the big leagues. If he hasn't gotten it by now, he never will. Coming off his career year in 2010, Young has done nothing but disappoint in 2011, hitting only a mere five home runs and driving in only 33 runs in 309 at-bats. For a team like the Twins, decimated by injuries this season, it would've been nice for a five-year veteran to take the reigns and be the go-to guy on the team. With Delmon, they were just lucky they could pencil him into the lineup.
There's no question that unloading Delmon was the right thing to do. The Twins will be a better team without him. What's sad is that it took Bill Smith this long to realize what he had, or didn't have, for that matter. Even sadder, the fact that we will no doubt see similar returns for the likes of Francisco Liriano and Justin Morneau, since it's pretty evident Smith missed his window for both of them. At least we know one thing: we should be able to fill out the rest of our Single-A roster with what get from those future deals when they happen.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Twins Have Some Tough Decisions Ahead
After the Twins left the field on Sunday following a 7-0 loss and three-game sweep to their arch-rival White Sox, it became clearly evident that this team is not ready to compete this season. I know that sounds like I'm stating the obvious, but with a couple of promising weeks, it truly seemed like this team had turned the corner in June. Given what we've seen over the past two weeks on the road, and then their return back to Target Field this past weekend, there is no question that they need to begin looking at 2012, rather than trying to look at the remainder of 2011.
The Twins need to focus on a couple key areas over the next six months. In nor particular order:
With Cuddyer, the Twins need to find a way to bring him back to this team for the next couple of years. There's no doubt his price tag has gone up, but given his value to this team, both on the field and in the clubhouse, it's imperative that they not lose the heart and soul of their team...AGAIN. This happened before with Torii Hunter...not the greatest player they've had, but the face of the franchise and the best guy in the clubhouse. Michael Cuddyer deserves to succeed in Minnesota, nowhere else.
Given their inability to perform this season, Liriano, Capps, and Young all need to find new homes, sooner rather than later. Next season, the three combined will require about $20 million. Their level of production this season warrants more along the lines of about $8 million. Liriano lacks control, and doesn't seem to be paying much attention to Rick Anderson. Capps lacks an overpowering array of pitches, which leads to him being knocked around all over the park. Young is the biggest underachiever, having only one good season in 2010, and struggling at the plate in 2011. The $20 million that would be occupied by all three would be better suited for other free agents.
The Nishioka experiment has been a failed one thus far. Uncomfortable, over-matched, and lacking confidence. Those adjectives are the most applicable to Nishi. There seems to be a stigma with Japanese players that, once they're here, they have to remain in the majors. Unless there's something we're not aware of in the contract that Nishioka signed with the Twins, there's no reason they shouldn't send him down to Triple-A for the remainder of the season to try and build up his confidence and comfort level with the American game. What we're seeing right now is the equivalent of having a high-school junior quarterback into an NFL game. It's too fast, everyone is too big, and the offenses run are far different than high school. The same can be said for Nishi to the Majors. The game moves faster, the players are bigger and more athletic in America, and the game has different nuances here than in Japan. The better place for him to learn these things would be at the minor league level, as opposed to be thrown to the wolves at the Major League level. If the Twins wish to turn the experiment into somewhat of a success in 2012, they need to consider this as an option, and not worry about hurting his feelings.
The last seven weeks of the season would be the perfect time to mess with the lineup, after all, what's the worst that could happen. When you look at guys like Joe Mauer, Jason Kubel, Danny Valencia, and Delmon Young...would they be better suited hitting somewhere different in the lineup? When the Twins get Justin Morneau and Alexi Casilla back, the lineup will probably look like this: Span, Casilla, Mauer, Morneau, Cuddyer, Kubel, Valencia, Young, Nishioka. There are a couple of issues, in my opinion, with this lineup. The first is the third spot in the order, customarily held by Joe Mauer. Again, we understand he's been hurt, but what people don't get is that Joe is not a third-spot hitter. When you look around the Majors, the likes of Albert Pujols, Ryan Braun, Jose Bautista, Evan Longoria, Joey Votto, Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Hamilton, to name a few, are the guys you're seeing in the third spot in their respective batting orders. Looking collectively at the other 29 guys in MLB this season hitting in the third hole, they sport the following numbers: .288, 16 HR, 57 RBI. Joe's numbers this season: .286, 1 HR, 21 RBI. Number three hitters should not be "table setters". Those roles should be reserved for your lead-off and second hitters. Joe's mentality at the plate is that of a table-setter. His focus seems to be to get base hits, not to drive runners in. If that's the case, then the Twins need to address the issue. Either turn Mauer into an RBI guy, which means they should look at batting him 5th or 6th in the order, or have him be the single-slapping table-setter he seems to want to be and move him into the #2 hole permanently. Coupled with that, why not put someone like a Jason Kubel or Delmon Young into the #3 spot in the order? Kubel has been one of the better run producers on this club over the last couple of years, so maybe he is more fit for hitting third in the order. Experimenting with the order now is the best time to do it. If you happen to catch lightning in a bottle over the last seven weeks and make something happen...great. If not, you've got a better understanding of what you can do next season with the guys you have.
With this weekend having been the reunion of the 1991 World Series Champions at Target Field, it brings to light a very glaring weakness the Twins have, and that is starting pitching. What helped the '91 team succeed was the strength of their starting rotation, namely Jack Morris, Kevin Tapani, and Scott Erickson, who combined for a total of 54 wins during the regular season. If the Twins' starters this season keep their current pace, they too will win 54 games this season. The only problem: they're doing it with five starters, not three. The "big three" in '91 won no fewer than 16 games. The Twins might be lucky to have two 10-game winners this year. The fact that the '91 team knew they had a great chance at winning every time those guys took the mound was crucial! It's amazing what that feeling can do for a team. With this team, you really have no idea what you're going to get. Are you going to see the Francisco Liriano that blows people away, or are you going to get the one that walks six guys in four innings? Are you going to get the Nick Blackburn that picks his spots and effectively works the strike zone, or are you going to get the guy that appears to be lobbing beach balls at opposing hitters? When the offense doesn't have confidence in pitching, it brings a feeling of "how many runs are we going to have to score today in order to win?" That's a feeling that won't get a team into the post season, let alone win a championship. The Twins need to show a sense of urgency this fall and throughout the offseason, with regard to trying to land a front-line starter or two. Yes, the bullpen has been a mess this season, but when you look at when the pen was at its collective best, it was in the month of June...when the starting rotation, for even a brief couple of weeks, looked dominant and had the ability to work deep into games. When they can't, the bullpen struggles. The starters the team currently has, Carl Pavano included, seem to be inconsistent with what you're going to see. Finding a true ace this offseason should be near the top of the Twins' "to-do" list.
Sadly, the team isn't far off from being a contender. They've been down this road before. They need to put together a game plan, and execute, no different than anything else. If they can take care of a couple of these glaring issues, there's no reason this team shouldn't lock up the Central Division, and look towards playing into October next season.
The Twins need to focus on a couple key areas over the next six months. In nor particular order:
- Figure out how to bring Michael Cuddyer back.
- Look at unloading a bit of salary, namely through Francisco Liriano, Matt Capps, and Delmon Young
- Make a decision on Tsuyoshi Nishioka
- Make a few lineup changes
- Find a way to bring in a front-line starter
With Cuddyer, the Twins need to find a way to bring him back to this team for the next couple of years. There's no doubt his price tag has gone up, but given his value to this team, both on the field and in the clubhouse, it's imperative that they not lose the heart and soul of their team...AGAIN. This happened before with Torii Hunter...not the greatest player they've had, but the face of the franchise and the best guy in the clubhouse. Michael Cuddyer deserves to succeed in Minnesota, nowhere else.
Given their inability to perform this season, Liriano, Capps, and Young all need to find new homes, sooner rather than later. Next season, the three combined will require about $20 million. Their level of production this season warrants more along the lines of about $8 million. Liriano lacks control, and doesn't seem to be paying much attention to Rick Anderson. Capps lacks an overpowering array of pitches, which leads to him being knocked around all over the park. Young is the biggest underachiever, having only one good season in 2010, and struggling at the plate in 2011. The $20 million that would be occupied by all three would be better suited for other free agents.
The Nishioka experiment has been a failed one thus far. Uncomfortable, over-matched, and lacking confidence. Those adjectives are the most applicable to Nishi. There seems to be a stigma with Japanese players that, once they're here, they have to remain in the majors. Unless there's something we're not aware of in the contract that Nishioka signed with the Twins, there's no reason they shouldn't send him down to Triple-A for the remainder of the season to try and build up his confidence and comfort level with the American game. What we're seeing right now is the equivalent of having a high-school junior quarterback into an NFL game. It's too fast, everyone is too big, and the offenses run are far different than high school. The same can be said for Nishi to the Majors. The game moves faster, the players are bigger and more athletic in America, and the game has different nuances here than in Japan. The better place for him to learn these things would be at the minor league level, as opposed to be thrown to the wolves at the Major League level. If the Twins wish to turn the experiment into somewhat of a success in 2012, they need to consider this as an option, and not worry about hurting his feelings.
The last seven weeks of the season would be the perfect time to mess with the lineup, after all, what's the worst that could happen. When you look at guys like Joe Mauer, Jason Kubel, Danny Valencia, and Delmon Young...would they be better suited hitting somewhere different in the lineup? When the Twins get Justin Morneau and Alexi Casilla back, the lineup will probably look like this: Span, Casilla, Mauer, Morneau, Cuddyer, Kubel, Valencia, Young, Nishioka. There are a couple of issues, in my opinion, with this lineup. The first is the third spot in the order, customarily held by Joe Mauer. Again, we understand he's been hurt, but what people don't get is that Joe is not a third-spot hitter. When you look around the Majors, the likes of Albert Pujols, Ryan Braun, Jose Bautista, Evan Longoria, Joey Votto, Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Hamilton, to name a few, are the guys you're seeing in the third spot in their respective batting orders. Looking collectively at the other 29 guys in MLB this season hitting in the third hole, they sport the following numbers: .288, 16 HR, 57 RBI. Joe's numbers this season: .286, 1 HR, 21 RBI. Number three hitters should not be "table setters". Those roles should be reserved for your lead-off and second hitters. Joe's mentality at the plate is that of a table-setter. His focus seems to be to get base hits, not to drive runners in. If that's the case, then the Twins need to address the issue. Either turn Mauer into an RBI guy, which means they should look at batting him 5th or 6th in the order, or have him be the single-slapping table-setter he seems to want to be and move him into the #2 hole permanently. Coupled with that, why not put someone like a Jason Kubel or Delmon Young into the #3 spot in the order? Kubel has been one of the better run producers on this club over the last couple of years, so maybe he is more fit for hitting third in the order. Experimenting with the order now is the best time to do it. If you happen to catch lightning in a bottle over the last seven weeks and make something happen...great. If not, you've got a better understanding of what you can do next season with the guys you have.
With this weekend having been the reunion of the 1991 World Series Champions at Target Field, it brings to light a very glaring weakness the Twins have, and that is starting pitching. What helped the '91 team succeed was the strength of their starting rotation, namely Jack Morris, Kevin Tapani, and Scott Erickson, who combined for a total of 54 wins during the regular season. If the Twins' starters this season keep their current pace, they too will win 54 games this season. The only problem: they're doing it with five starters, not three. The "big three" in '91 won no fewer than 16 games. The Twins might be lucky to have two 10-game winners this year. The fact that the '91 team knew they had a great chance at winning every time those guys took the mound was crucial! It's amazing what that feeling can do for a team. With this team, you really have no idea what you're going to get. Are you going to see the Francisco Liriano that blows people away, or are you going to get the one that walks six guys in four innings? Are you going to get the Nick Blackburn that picks his spots and effectively works the strike zone, or are you going to get the guy that appears to be lobbing beach balls at opposing hitters? When the offense doesn't have confidence in pitching, it brings a feeling of "how many runs are we going to have to score today in order to win?" That's a feeling that won't get a team into the post season, let alone win a championship. The Twins need to show a sense of urgency this fall and throughout the offseason, with regard to trying to land a front-line starter or two. Yes, the bullpen has been a mess this season, but when you look at when the pen was at its collective best, it was in the month of June...when the starting rotation, for even a brief couple of weeks, looked dominant and had the ability to work deep into games. When they can't, the bullpen struggles. The starters the team currently has, Carl Pavano included, seem to be inconsistent with what you're going to see. Finding a true ace this offseason should be near the top of the Twins' "to-do" list.
Sadly, the team isn't far off from being a contender. They've been down this road before. They need to put together a game plan, and execute, no different than anything else. If they can take care of a couple of these glaring issues, there's no reason this team shouldn't lock up the Central Division, and look towards playing into October next season.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Non-Identical Twins? I Think So.
With the Twins and their fans celebrating the 20 year anniversary of the 1991 World Series Championship team this weekend, it got me thinking a bit about the differences between that squad and the current incarnation of the team. Interesting, really, but frustrating nonetheless.
When you look up and down the lineups, there are a few similarities, a few surprises, and a few no brainers. To start with, let me call out a couple of issues before I continue:
On paper, this seems like an obvious no brainer. Joe Mauer is a three-time American League batting champion, and a former MVP. He has been the face of this franchise since taking over as the full-time catcher almost seven years ago. Brian Harper, however, had a grittiness to him that was unmatched. A career .295 hitter, Harper hit over .300 as a Twin over the six seasons he played. His stats during the 1991 season: .311, 10 HR, 60 RBI. Mauer's stats this season: .293, 1 HR, 20 RBI. EDGE: Looking at just the season, it could be argued that the edge would have to go to Harper.
First Base: Kent Hrbek ('91) vs. Michael Cuddyer ('11)
With Justin Morneau hurt for the better part of the last three seasons, Michael Cuddyer has stepped into the first base role as if he'd played there his entire life. Back in 1991, Kent Hrbek owned first base. Getting him out of the lineup was a chore, just as it is trying to get Cuddyer a day off, regardless of the position he plays. Hrbek was one of the vocal team leaders of the '91 team, and an obvious inspiration to many of his teammates. Cuddyer could arguably be the glue that has held this 2011 team together, albeit by a thread. Hrbek's stats in '91: .284, 20 HR, 89 RBI. Cuddyer's 2011 stats: .301, 18 HR, 60 RBI. EDGE: Toss Up. Both players were integral parts of their own teams.
Second Base: Chuck Knoblauch ('91) vs. Alexi Casilla ('11)
Chuck Knoblauch, despite his strange and erratic behavior later in his career, was probably one of the most important pieces of the '91 championship run. As a rookie, he batted second for the Twins, and played outstanding defense in the field, making a terrific combination up the middle with Greg Gagne. Speaking of erratic, Alexi Casilla seemed to have finally come into his own this season, maturing in a matter of weeks to be a solid fixture at second base, before recently getting coming up lame with a hamstring issue. His impact to the team, however, is nowhere close to that of his '91 predecessor. Knoblauch's '91 stats: .281, 1 HR, 50 RBI. Casilla's stats in '11: .259, 2 HR, 21 RBI. EDGE: Easily Knoblauch, if for no other reason than the "deke" in Game 7.
Shortstop: Greg Gagne ('91) vs. Tsuyoshi Nishioka ('11)
Really, there isn't even a point in discussing this one. Greg Gagne was an invaluable player for the Twins in the late '80's and early '90's. His defense alone was something to behold, despite never winning a Gold Glove. Tsuyoshi Nishioka has been the disappointment of disappointments, having what could arguably be the worst season for a Japanese position player in history. Although"Nishi" broke his leg in the seventh game of the season, it has been clear that he's far from being a Major League-ready player, both in the field and at the plate. Gagne's '91 stats: .265, 8 HR, 42 RBI. Nishioka's stats in '11: .211, 0 HR, 14 RBI. EDGE: Gagne, without question.
Third Base: Mike Pagliarulo ('91) vs. Danny Valencia ('11)
Mike Pagliarulo was one of two third baseman used by the Twins during the 1991 season, with Scott Leius being the other. Pags hit one of the biggest home runs in Twins postseason history in the '91 ALCS against Toronto, which helped the Twins best the Jays in five games. Danny Valencia has shown in his first two seasons that he has the potential to be a great hitter for the Twins, displaying the ability to hit for average (as he did in his rookie year of 2010) and showing that he can also put the ball over the fence (as he is doing in his sophomore year). Valencia's problems come in the field, where he leads the Twins with 15 errors. Pagliarulo accounted for only 11 errors in 1991. Pags' 1991 numbers: .279, 6 HR, 36 RBI. Valencia's numbers in 2011: .244, 12 HR, 57 RBI. EDGE: Valencia. If you combine Pagliarulo and Leius' offensive numbers in '91, they hit 11 HR and drove in 56 runs. Valencia has topped both.
Left Field: Dan Gladden ('91) vs. Delmon Young ('11)
Dan Gladden defined the Twins attitude, both in 1987 and in 1991. His hard-nosed style set the tone for both teams, and it's no coincidence that the Twins' only two World Series titles came with Gladden leading the way. Delmon Young continues to under-achieve, and shows a far more minimalistic effort than his 1991 counterpart. It would be hard for anyone to confuse what Delmon does as "hustle", which is truly what defined Gladden. Gladden's stats in 1991: .247, 6 HR, 52 RBI. Young's 2011 stats: .266, 4 HR, 30 RBI. EDGE: The edge goes to Gladden, if for not other reason than his hustling double in Game 7, which ultimately led to Gene Larkin's bases loaded walk-off single in the 10th inning.
Center Field: Kirby Puckett ('91) vs. Denard Span ('11)
Truly, this isn't even a fair fight. Kirby Puckett WAS the Twins. Had it not been for Puckett putting the team on his back in Game 6, there never would've been a Game 7. His amazing catch of a Ron Gant blast to left center, followed soon thereafter by his incredible walk-off home run to send the series to the best finale ever, single-handedly puts him on a pedestal above all others. Denard Span has proven to be a terrific player for the current Twins, batting lead-off, getting on base, hustling, and playing great defense in center. It's unfortunate, because no matter who you would put here, even Torii Hunter, Puckett wins out. Kirby's numbers in '91: .319, 15 HR, 89 RBI. Span's '11 stats: .284, 2 HR, 15 RBI. EDGE: Puckett, without a shadow of a doubt!
Right Field: Shane Mack ('91) vs. Jason Kubel ('11)
It's safe to say that Shane Mack could possibly have been the most underrated player on the entire 1991 championship roster, and that's not to take anything away from anyone else on the team. His overall contribution that season was incredible. Although he had a less than stellar World Series, the Twins couldn't have gotten to where they were in '91 without the likes of Shane Mack. Jason Kubel has been the Twins' best player in 2011, when he's been healthy. He's shown more discipline, great power, and far better range in the outfield than could've ever been expected. Mack's 1991 statistics: .310, 18 HR, 74 RBI. Kubel's '11 campaign: .307, 7 HR, 39 RBI. EDGE: Shane Mack, for his "out of nowhere" performance throughout the entire season.
Designated Hitter: Chili Davis ('91) vs. Jim Thome ('11)
The team's leader in home runs and runs batted in for the 1991 season, Chili Davis stepped into the DH role as if he'd been doing it for the club for years. His bat in the lineup allowed players like Kirby and Herbie to see better pitches, and more than likely helped to contribute to the numbers Shane Mack put up as well. Jim Thome is a class act, and is on the verge of an incredible accomplishment, hitting 600 home runs this season. His health has been somewhat of a concern, with a couple trips to the DL this season. All told, his career has been amazing, but his season thus far could've been a bit better. Chili's numbers in '91: .277, 29 HR, 93 RBI. Thome's '11 stats: .252, 9 HR, 30 RBI. EDGE: Chili Davis, despite the incredible career of big Jim Thome.
Starting Rotation: Jack Morris, Scott Erickson, Kevin Tapani, Allan Anderson ('91) vs. Carl Pavano, Francisco Liriano, Scott Baker, Nick Blackburn ('11)
The 1991 starting rotation featured three pitchers with more than 16 wins, capped by Scott Erickson's 20 win season. Collectively, you knew you were getting a solid start from each of the top three guys, each and every time they took the mound. The 2011 staff has shown nothing but inconsistency, led by Francisco Liriano. When each member of the 2011 rotation takes the hill, you never know if you'll be getting a quality start, or if you'll have to dive into the bullpen by the fourth inning. EDGE: Clearly the 1991 staff, with a 20-game winner and an 18-game winner, not to mention the best pitching performance of all time in the World Series, Jack Morris's 10-inning shutout in Game 7.
Relief Pitching: Notable names include: Carl Willis, Mark Guthrie, Steve Bedrosian ('91) vs. Jose Mijares, Glen Perkins, Matt Capps ('11)
Considering the numerous blown saves given up by the 2011 bullpen, it's safe to say that the better of the two bullpen staffs goes to the 1991 team. EDGE: 1991 Twins
Closer: Rick Aguilera ('91) vs. Joe Nathan ('11)
The Twins' all-time save leader for now, Rick Aguilera was a sure-fire lock when he came into games. Part of the reason the starting staff succeeded as well as it did was in no small part because of Aguilera. That being said, Joe Nathan is about to pass Aggy on the all-time Twins' saves list with his next saves. The Twins struggled early on in 2011 when Nathan pulled himself from the closer's role after coming off Tommy John surgery in 2009. Matt Capps had blown eight saves before Ron Gardenhire pulled the plug on him and put the ball back into Nathan's hands at the end of games. Unfortunately, Aguilera's impact on the club is far greater than that of Nathan currently. EDGE: Rick Aguilera, although both men have set the standard for closers in Minnesota.
Manager: Tom Kelly ('91) vs. Ron Gardenhire ('11)
Considering Ron Gardenhire would probably not be managing the Twins had it not been for Tom Kelly bringing him onto the staff in 1991 to coach third base, I would say that the overall edge would have to fall with T.K. His management style has often tried to be imitated, but rarely ever duplicated. Gardenhire appears to be more passive, and as a result, seems to be late regarding certain moves. EDGE: Tom Kelly
There you have it. As I said, on paper, you might actually think the 2011 Minnesota Twins would be far superior to that of their 1991 brethren, but as you look more in depth, the 1991 team had many things this current version does not. Based on some of those things, it's no surprise why the Twins are celebrating the 20 year anniversary this weekend with such pomp and circumstance. Hopefully, with a few tweaks to this current roster, Minnesota fans could see another magical run to the World Series trophy.
When you look up and down the lineups, there are a few similarities, a few surprises, and a few no brainers. To start with, let me call out a couple of issues before I continue:
- As I look at the 2011 Twins, I've considered the best lineup available for most of the season. With the fact that Justin Morneau has been injured each of the last three seasons, I've taken him out of consideration at first base, since the Twins have done most of their winning over the last three seasons without him.
- I've chosen only one player from each position, despite the fact that there are a couple of instances (1991 third baseman and 2011 center fielders) where there has been more of a platoon due to injuries or what have you.
- I've taken only the best four starters from the 2011 team, since teams actually used only four-man rotations back in 1991. God, I miss the good old days!
On paper, this seems like an obvious no brainer. Joe Mauer is a three-time American League batting champion, and a former MVP. He has been the face of this franchise since taking over as the full-time catcher almost seven years ago. Brian Harper, however, had a grittiness to him that was unmatched. A career .295 hitter, Harper hit over .300 as a Twin over the six seasons he played. His stats during the 1991 season: .311, 10 HR, 60 RBI. Mauer's stats this season: .293, 1 HR, 20 RBI. EDGE: Looking at just the season, it could be argued that the edge would have to go to Harper.
First Base: Kent Hrbek ('91) vs. Michael Cuddyer ('11)
With Justin Morneau hurt for the better part of the last three seasons, Michael Cuddyer has stepped into the first base role as if he'd played there his entire life. Back in 1991, Kent Hrbek owned first base. Getting him out of the lineup was a chore, just as it is trying to get Cuddyer a day off, regardless of the position he plays. Hrbek was one of the vocal team leaders of the '91 team, and an obvious inspiration to many of his teammates. Cuddyer could arguably be the glue that has held this 2011 team together, albeit by a thread. Hrbek's stats in '91: .284, 20 HR, 89 RBI. Cuddyer's 2011 stats: .301, 18 HR, 60 RBI. EDGE: Toss Up. Both players were integral parts of their own teams.
Second Base: Chuck Knoblauch ('91) vs. Alexi Casilla ('11)
Chuck Knoblauch, despite his strange and erratic behavior later in his career, was probably one of the most important pieces of the '91 championship run. As a rookie, he batted second for the Twins, and played outstanding defense in the field, making a terrific combination up the middle with Greg Gagne. Speaking of erratic, Alexi Casilla seemed to have finally come into his own this season, maturing in a matter of weeks to be a solid fixture at second base, before recently getting coming up lame with a hamstring issue. His impact to the team, however, is nowhere close to that of his '91 predecessor. Knoblauch's '91 stats: .281, 1 HR, 50 RBI. Casilla's stats in '11: .259, 2 HR, 21 RBI. EDGE: Easily Knoblauch, if for no other reason than the "deke" in Game 7.
Shortstop: Greg Gagne ('91) vs. Tsuyoshi Nishioka ('11)
Really, there isn't even a point in discussing this one. Greg Gagne was an invaluable player for the Twins in the late '80's and early '90's. His defense alone was something to behold, despite never winning a Gold Glove. Tsuyoshi Nishioka has been the disappointment of disappointments, having what could arguably be the worst season for a Japanese position player in history. Although"Nishi" broke his leg in the seventh game of the season, it has been clear that he's far from being a Major League-ready player, both in the field and at the plate. Gagne's '91 stats: .265, 8 HR, 42 RBI. Nishioka's stats in '11: .211, 0 HR, 14 RBI. EDGE: Gagne, without question.
Third Base: Mike Pagliarulo ('91) vs. Danny Valencia ('11)
Mike Pagliarulo was one of two third baseman used by the Twins during the 1991 season, with Scott Leius being the other. Pags hit one of the biggest home runs in Twins postseason history in the '91 ALCS against Toronto, which helped the Twins best the Jays in five games. Danny Valencia has shown in his first two seasons that he has the potential to be a great hitter for the Twins, displaying the ability to hit for average (as he did in his rookie year of 2010) and showing that he can also put the ball over the fence (as he is doing in his sophomore year). Valencia's problems come in the field, where he leads the Twins with 15 errors. Pagliarulo accounted for only 11 errors in 1991. Pags' 1991 numbers: .279, 6 HR, 36 RBI. Valencia's numbers in 2011: .244, 12 HR, 57 RBI. EDGE: Valencia. If you combine Pagliarulo and Leius' offensive numbers in '91, they hit 11 HR and drove in 56 runs. Valencia has topped both.
Left Field: Dan Gladden ('91) vs. Delmon Young ('11)
Dan Gladden defined the Twins attitude, both in 1987 and in 1991. His hard-nosed style set the tone for both teams, and it's no coincidence that the Twins' only two World Series titles came with Gladden leading the way. Delmon Young continues to under-achieve, and shows a far more minimalistic effort than his 1991 counterpart. It would be hard for anyone to confuse what Delmon does as "hustle", which is truly what defined Gladden. Gladden's stats in 1991: .247, 6 HR, 52 RBI. Young's 2011 stats: .266, 4 HR, 30 RBI. EDGE: The edge goes to Gladden, if for not other reason than his hustling double in Game 7, which ultimately led to Gene Larkin's bases loaded walk-off single in the 10th inning.
Center Field: Kirby Puckett ('91) vs. Denard Span ('11)
Truly, this isn't even a fair fight. Kirby Puckett WAS the Twins. Had it not been for Puckett putting the team on his back in Game 6, there never would've been a Game 7. His amazing catch of a Ron Gant blast to left center, followed soon thereafter by his incredible walk-off home run to send the series to the best finale ever, single-handedly puts him on a pedestal above all others. Denard Span has proven to be a terrific player for the current Twins, batting lead-off, getting on base, hustling, and playing great defense in center. It's unfortunate, because no matter who you would put here, even Torii Hunter, Puckett wins out. Kirby's numbers in '91: .319, 15 HR, 89 RBI. Span's '11 stats: .284, 2 HR, 15 RBI. EDGE: Puckett, without a shadow of a doubt!
Right Field: Shane Mack ('91) vs. Jason Kubel ('11)
It's safe to say that Shane Mack could possibly have been the most underrated player on the entire 1991 championship roster, and that's not to take anything away from anyone else on the team. His overall contribution that season was incredible. Although he had a less than stellar World Series, the Twins couldn't have gotten to where they were in '91 without the likes of Shane Mack. Jason Kubel has been the Twins' best player in 2011, when he's been healthy. He's shown more discipline, great power, and far better range in the outfield than could've ever been expected. Mack's 1991 statistics: .310, 18 HR, 74 RBI. Kubel's '11 campaign: .307, 7 HR, 39 RBI. EDGE: Shane Mack, for his "out of nowhere" performance throughout the entire season.
Designated Hitter: Chili Davis ('91) vs. Jim Thome ('11)
The team's leader in home runs and runs batted in for the 1991 season, Chili Davis stepped into the DH role as if he'd been doing it for the club for years. His bat in the lineup allowed players like Kirby and Herbie to see better pitches, and more than likely helped to contribute to the numbers Shane Mack put up as well. Jim Thome is a class act, and is on the verge of an incredible accomplishment, hitting 600 home runs this season. His health has been somewhat of a concern, with a couple trips to the DL this season. All told, his career has been amazing, but his season thus far could've been a bit better. Chili's numbers in '91: .277, 29 HR, 93 RBI. Thome's '11 stats: .252, 9 HR, 30 RBI. EDGE: Chili Davis, despite the incredible career of big Jim Thome.
Starting Rotation: Jack Morris, Scott Erickson, Kevin Tapani, Allan Anderson ('91) vs. Carl Pavano, Francisco Liriano, Scott Baker, Nick Blackburn ('11)
The 1991 starting rotation featured three pitchers with more than 16 wins, capped by Scott Erickson's 20 win season. Collectively, you knew you were getting a solid start from each of the top three guys, each and every time they took the mound. The 2011 staff has shown nothing but inconsistency, led by Francisco Liriano. When each member of the 2011 rotation takes the hill, you never know if you'll be getting a quality start, or if you'll have to dive into the bullpen by the fourth inning. EDGE: Clearly the 1991 staff, with a 20-game winner and an 18-game winner, not to mention the best pitching performance of all time in the World Series, Jack Morris's 10-inning shutout in Game 7.
Relief Pitching: Notable names include: Carl Willis, Mark Guthrie, Steve Bedrosian ('91) vs. Jose Mijares, Glen Perkins, Matt Capps ('11)
Considering the numerous blown saves given up by the 2011 bullpen, it's safe to say that the better of the two bullpen staffs goes to the 1991 team. EDGE: 1991 Twins
Closer: Rick Aguilera ('91) vs. Joe Nathan ('11)
The Twins' all-time save leader for now, Rick Aguilera was a sure-fire lock when he came into games. Part of the reason the starting staff succeeded as well as it did was in no small part because of Aguilera. That being said, Joe Nathan is about to pass Aggy on the all-time Twins' saves list with his next saves. The Twins struggled early on in 2011 when Nathan pulled himself from the closer's role after coming off Tommy John surgery in 2009. Matt Capps had blown eight saves before Ron Gardenhire pulled the plug on him and put the ball back into Nathan's hands at the end of games. Unfortunately, Aguilera's impact on the club is far greater than that of Nathan currently. EDGE: Rick Aguilera, although both men have set the standard for closers in Minnesota.
Manager: Tom Kelly ('91) vs. Ron Gardenhire ('11)
Considering Ron Gardenhire would probably not be managing the Twins had it not been for Tom Kelly bringing him onto the staff in 1991 to coach third base, I would say that the overall edge would have to fall with T.K. His management style has often tried to be imitated, but rarely ever duplicated. Gardenhire appears to be more passive, and as a result, seems to be late regarding certain moves. EDGE: Tom Kelly
There you have it. As I said, on paper, you might actually think the 2011 Minnesota Twins would be far superior to that of their 1991 brethren, but as you look more in depth, the 1991 team had many things this current version does not. Based on some of those things, it's no surprise why the Twins are celebrating the 20 year anniversary this weekend with such pomp and circumstance. Hopefully, with a few tweaks to this current roster, Minnesota fans could see another magical run to the World Series trophy.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Twins Trade Deadline Opinion - Good Or Bad?
Hey folks. It's been a couple of weeks since I've blogged, and after some time away, it's time to get back at it.
To start back in...I wanted to talk a bit about the MLB trade deadline that came and went Sunday afternoon. More specifically, I'd like to discuss the activity (or lack of) of our Minnesota Twins.
As the 4pm eastern deadline neared, the Twins were rumored to be completing a trade which would have brought in Washington Nationals closer Drew Storen in exchange for starting center fielder and fan favorite, Denard Span. When the deadline passed, Span remained a Twin, much to the satisfaction of almost all Twins fans, including myself. Yes, the Twins have been in major need of a boost to the bullpen, but that bolstering should not have come at the expense of Span. Afterall, what would the Twins have done with a third closer, with both Joe Nathan and Matt Capps already sitting out in the bullpen?
So, what was it that upset people more? Was it the fact that the Twins were considering a trade of one of their brighter, young stars? Was it the idea that they were try to acquire another closer from the Nationals, a year after sending top catching prospect Wilson Ramos to the Nats to get Matt Capps to close games for the remainder of the season? Or, was it the simple reality that the team didn't pull off any kind of deal to either try and win this year, or to better themselves for the future? My opinion? It was all three.
Going in to July, I was of the mindset that the Twins had a couple of players who should've been shopped to teams, either those contending or those willing to take some expensive contracts off our hands, in order to either make a run at the Central Division title this year, or to prepare for another run next year. Those couple of players were Kevin Slowey, Justin Morneau, Delmon Young, and Francisco Liriano. Slowey has clearly fallen out of favor with the club. Morneau has not played in a playoff game since 2006, with the Twins making two playoff runs each of the last two seasons without him. Young continues to under-achieve, despite a 2010 season to which he finally played to his potential, but otherwise proves to be mediocre at best. And Liriano, who appears to do nothing but flip a coin to decide whether he will pitch a good game or not, and lately, that coin has fallen on "not". Yet, during the days leading up to the deadline, the names Denard Span, Michael Cuddyer, and Jason Kubel continued to be mentioned.
The Twins, in their current form, have the potential to compete for the division title, and even win it. Where the Twins have fallen flat over the last two post seasons has been in the starting pitching department. This season seems to be following suit. Brian Duensing and Scott Baker have been the two steady hands in the rotation throughout July, although Duensing has struggled a bit since the All-Star break. The other three starters, Carl Pavano (6.87), Nick Blackburn (7.45), and Liriano (4.01), have combined for a 6.08 ERA in the month of July. It's no coincidence then that the overall team ERA has spiked from 3.08 in June to a pathetic 4.59 in July. When the Twins cut their Central Division deficit from 16.5 games out of first place to six games out in the month of June, it was because of their starting pitching. Now that they've faltered a bit in July, it's because of their starting pitching. Yet, the only deal at the trade deadline that was close to being made was for a closer, not a starter? Why doesn't that make any sense?
As strange as this may sound, the Twins will encounter a big problem later this month. With Span returning from the disabled list Tuesday night in Anaheim, and Justin Morneau returning some time in the next couple of weeks, the team will have to start trying to figure out a way to get everyone the at-bats they need in order put the best lineup on the field. The problem results from an overabundance of outfielders.
With Span back, they will have six (Span, Cuddyer, Kubel, Young, Ben Revere, and Jason Repko). Given the injury situation, this hasn't been much of a problem over the last couple of months. With Morneau out, Cuddyer has seen more time at first base than he has in the outfield. With Span shelved, Revere has been able to prove himself as a very viable major league player. Kubel being down allowed a few opportunities for Repko to see some action. Until Morneau's return, Cuddyer will continue to spell him at first, which takes him out of the equation until then. Given the production from Span and Kubel (pre-DL), Cuddyer's all-star year, and Revere's emergence, the logical choice to move should've been the under-performing Delmon Young. With his salary only a shade over $5 million, the price tag would seem to have been affordable for many teams looking to add an outfield bat for a stretch run. Unfortunately, there aren't many teams interested in a below-average fielding .264 hitter with only 2 home runs and a measly 27 RBI's this season, regardless of him costing them only a portion of his $5 million contract.
If they were going to make a move, the Twins needed to improve their pitching situation, both from a starting standpoint as well as a bullpen one. It's understandable that in order to get something, you'd need to give something. Packaging some combination of Slowey, Morneau, Young, and Liriano should've been enough to land both frontline and relief help to make a push towards the post season. Unfortunately, the Twins didn't seem to pursue a trade, rather, let a team like the Nationals pursue them. As fans, we're lucky the deal with Span never culminated. We're unlucky, however, that our team's front office seems unwilling to seek improvement.
To start back in...I wanted to talk a bit about the MLB trade deadline that came and went Sunday afternoon. More specifically, I'd like to discuss the activity (or lack of) of our Minnesota Twins.
As the 4pm eastern deadline neared, the Twins were rumored to be completing a trade which would have brought in Washington Nationals closer Drew Storen in exchange for starting center fielder and fan favorite, Denard Span. When the deadline passed, Span remained a Twin, much to the satisfaction of almost all Twins fans, including myself. Yes, the Twins have been in major need of a boost to the bullpen, but that bolstering should not have come at the expense of Span. Afterall, what would the Twins have done with a third closer, with both Joe Nathan and Matt Capps already sitting out in the bullpen?
So, what was it that upset people more? Was it the fact that the Twins were considering a trade of one of their brighter, young stars? Was it the idea that they were try to acquire another closer from the Nationals, a year after sending top catching prospect Wilson Ramos to the Nats to get Matt Capps to close games for the remainder of the season? Or, was it the simple reality that the team didn't pull off any kind of deal to either try and win this year, or to better themselves for the future? My opinion? It was all three.
Going in to July, I was of the mindset that the Twins had a couple of players who should've been shopped to teams, either those contending or those willing to take some expensive contracts off our hands, in order to either make a run at the Central Division title this year, or to prepare for another run next year. Those couple of players were Kevin Slowey, Justin Morneau, Delmon Young, and Francisco Liriano. Slowey has clearly fallen out of favor with the club. Morneau has not played in a playoff game since 2006, with the Twins making two playoff runs each of the last two seasons without him. Young continues to under-achieve, despite a 2010 season to which he finally played to his potential, but otherwise proves to be mediocre at best. And Liriano, who appears to do nothing but flip a coin to decide whether he will pitch a good game or not, and lately, that coin has fallen on "not". Yet, during the days leading up to the deadline, the names Denard Span, Michael Cuddyer, and Jason Kubel continued to be mentioned.
The Twins, in their current form, have the potential to compete for the division title, and even win it. Where the Twins have fallen flat over the last two post seasons has been in the starting pitching department. This season seems to be following suit. Brian Duensing and Scott Baker have been the two steady hands in the rotation throughout July, although Duensing has struggled a bit since the All-Star break. The other three starters, Carl Pavano (6.87), Nick Blackburn (7.45), and Liriano (4.01), have combined for a 6.08 ERA in the month of July. It's no coincidence then that the overall team ERA has spiked from 3.08 in June to a pathetic 4.59 in July. When the Twins cut their Central Division deficit from 16.5 games out of first place to six games out in the month of June, it was because of their starting pitching. Now that they've faltered a bit in July, it's because of their starting pitching. Yet, the only deal at the trade deadline that was close to being made was for a closer, not a starter? Why doesn't that make any sense?
As strange as this may sound, the Twins will encounter a big problem later this month. With Span returning from the disabled list Tuesday night in Anaheim, and Justin Morneau returning some time in the next couple of weeks, the team will have to start trying to figure out a way to get everyone the at-bats they need in order put the best lineup on the field. The problem results from an overabundance of outfielders.
With Span back, they will have six (Span, Cuddyer, Kubel, Young, Ben Revere, and Jason Repko). Given the injury situation, this hasn't been much of a problem over the last couple of months. With Morneau out, Cuddyer has seen more time at first base than he has in the outfield. With Span shelved, Revere has been able to prove himself as a very viable major league player. Kubel being down allowed a few opportunities for Repko to see some action. Until Morneau's return, Cuddyer will continue to spell him at first, which takes him out of the equation until then. Given the production from Span and Kubel (pre-DL), Cuddyer's all-star year, and Revere's emergence, the logical choice to move should've been the under-performing Delmon Young. With his salary only a shade over $5 million, the price tag would seem to have been affordable for many teams looking to add an outfield bat for a stretch run. Unfortunately, there aren't many teams interested in a below-average fielding .264 hitter with only 2 home runs and a measly 27 RBI's this season, regardless of him costing them only a portion of his $5 million contract.
If they were going to make a move, the Twins needed to improve their pitching situation, both from a starting standpoint as well as a bullpen one. It's understandable that in order to get something, you'd need to give something. Packaging some combination of Slowey, Morneau, Young, and Liriano should've been enough to land both frontline and relief help to make a push towards the post season. Unfortunately, the Twins didn't seem to pursue a trade, rather, let a team like the Nationals pursue them. As fans, we're lucky the deal with Span never culminated. We're unlucky, however, that our team's front office seems unwilling to seek improvement.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Seriously, Who's Running The Show For The Twins?
The Twins have 86 games left in the season. It's a pretty good bet that means they only have 57 games with Joe Mauer in the lineup. Why? Because it appears Mauer needs to have a day off every third day. At first glance, it appeared that manager Ron Gardenhire was the responsible party for keeping Joe out of the lineup. To be honest, I'm not so sure it's not Joe himself.
I've been one of the biggest proponents of keeping Mauer behind the plate and not playing him anywhere else in the field. My rationale was simple: he was drafted a catcher, he's been one of the best catchers in baseball since he became a permanent starter, and he signed a huge mega-deal to play catcher. Simple as that. But extreme times call for extreme measures. With Justin Morneau hitting the disabled list earlier this week to have surgery on his neck, and Delmon Young landing on the DL Sunday morning with an ankle issue, the Twins had two open spots in their lineup.
The active outfielders on the roster going into Sunday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers were hitting a combined .235, and were only even that high because of the .292 batting average that Michael Cuddyer has put up. The starting lineup included Ben Revere, Michael Cuddyer, and Jason Repko in the outfield, and after a double-switch late in the game, Rene Tosoni was brought in to play right field when Cuddyer slid into the infield to play first base. Again, we all know my disdain for Delmon Young. I'm not shy about bringing that up. And yes, a couple of weeks ago, I suggested playing Jason Repko in place of Young in the outfield, because Young refuses to show up during a contract year and I thought the Twins needed a little shake-up in the lineup.
Today, I'm changing my tune a little bit. I still think Delmon Young is worthless in the outfield (and at the plate). But, I do believe they need a little shake-up in the outfield. And the person who might need to shake that outfield up is #7 himself. One problem, however, is that apparently Joe doesn't care to play anywhere else, as evidenced by his absence from the lineup on Sunday. A gaping hole in left field and another at first base, and yet Mauer sat for the second time in five days.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the point of putting him on the 60-day disabled list to ensure that he was going to have enough strength in his legs to catch five or six games in a row and be effective doing so? I swear I heard the Twins saying they didn't want to bring him back too soon. But, it would appear that Mr. Mauer's legs are a little weaker than they should be, since he's continuing to take an abnormal number of days off. What's the definition of a "team player"? Clearly, right now, it's not Joe.
So, what does it take to get through to Mauer? This year, we've heard it all. We've heard that Joe and his "people" were the ones monitoring his rehabilitation from the off-season knee surgery he went through. If the Twins were taking the bull by the horns, so to speak, they would've started his rehab out much sooner, and we may have had him up to full speed by the end of spring training, as he should've been. We've heard that Joe is the one telling Gardenhire that he "needs a day off" when his manager asks if he's able to play. I guess the inmates run Gardy's asylum. Last time I checked, the manager was the one that filled out the lineup card, not the players. When you have a player on the roster like Michael Cuddyer, who is a fantastic clubhouse guy and seemingly willing to play any and everywhere you'd need him to play, someone like Joe Mauer appears to be more of a prima donna or a "diva" each and every day. Yet Mauer is the face of the franchise, and the name on the back of over 50% of the jerseys you see at Target Field. Hmm...makes you wonder some times.
When you add all the pieces together; injuries to both Morneau and Young, a day out of the lineup on Thursday, and the fact that the Twins were playing their final game in a National League ballpark, it would seem logical that the star player, the face of the franchise, and the supposed team leader would've made every effort to find his way into the lineup, even hiding himself in the outfield if he had to. Instead, his legs should be well rested to start the series against the Dodgers this week.
I've been one of the biggest proponents of keeping Mauer behind the plate and not playing him anywhere else in the field. My rationale was simple: he was drafted a catcher, he's been one of the best catchers in baseball since he became a permanent starter, and he signed a huge mega-deal to play catcher. Simple as that. But extreme times call for extreme measures. With Justin Morneau hitting the disabled list earlier this week to have surgery on his neck, and Delmon Young landing on the DL Sunday morning with an ankle issue, the Twins had two open spots in their lineup.
The active outfielders on the roster going into Sunday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers were hitting a combined .235, and were only even that high because of the .292 batting average that Michael Cuddyer has put up. The starting lineup included Ben Revere, Michael Cuddyer, and Jason Repko in the outfield, and after a double-switch late in the game, Rene Tosoni was brought in to play right field when Cuddyer slid into the infield to play first base. Again, we all know my disdain for Delmon Young. I'm not shy about bringing that up. And yes, a couple of weeks ago, I suggested playing Jason Repko in place of Young in the outfield, because Young refuses to show up during a contract year and I thought the Twins needed a little shake-up in the lineup.
Today, I'm changing my tune a little bit. I still think Delmon Young is worthless in the outfield (and at the plate). But, I do believe they need a little shake-up in the outfield. And the person who might need to shake that outfield up is #7 himself. One problem, however, is that apparently Joe doesn't care to play anywhere else, as evidenced by his absence from the lineup on Sunday. A gaping hole in left field and another at first base, and yet Mauer sat for the second time in five days.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the point of putting him on the 60-day disabled list to ensure that he was going to have enough strength in his legs to catch five or six games in a row and be effective doing so? I swear I heard the Twins saying they didn't want to bring him back too soon. But, it would appear that Mr. Mauer's legs are a little weaker than they should be, since he's continuing to take an abnormal number of days off. What's the definition of a "team player"? Clearly, right now, it's not Joe.
So, what does it take to get through to Mauer? This year, we've heard it all. We've heard that Joe and his "people" were the ones monitoring his rehabilitation from the off-season knee surgery he went through. If the Twins were taking the bull by the horns, so to speak, they would've started his rehab out much sooner, and we may have had him up to full speed by the end of spring training, as he should've been. We've heard that Joe is the one telling Gardenhire that he "needs a day off" when his manager asks if he's able to play. I guess the inmates run Gardy's asylum. Last time I checked, the manager was the one that filled out the lineup card, not the players. When you have a player on the roster like Michael Cuddyer, who is a fantastic clubhouse guy and seemingly willing to play any and everywhere you'd need him to play, someone like Joe Mauer appears to be more of a prima donna or a "diva" each and every day. Yet Mauer is the face of the franchise, and the name on the back of over 50% of the jerseys you see at Target Field. Hmm...makes you wonder some times.
When you add all the pieces together; injuries to both Morneau and Young, a day out of the lineup on Thursday, and the fact that the Twins were playing their final game in a National League ballpark, it would seem logical that the star player, the face of the franchise, and the supposed team leader would've made every effort to find his way into the lineup, even hiding himself in the outfield if he had to. Instead, his legs should be well rested to start the series against the Dodgers this week.
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