2018-2019 Minnesota Twins Off-Season Thread

[Breakin' The Plane]

I wonder what happens with Molitor. Just my opinion, but they're probably going to be close enough to .500 where you have to give him another year. Considering everything that went wrong, a win total in the mid 70s is respectable.

 

[tikited]

I wonder what happens with Molitor. Just my opinion, but they're probably going to be close enough to .500 where you have to give him another year. Considering everything that went wrong, a win total in the mid 70s is respectable.

Maybe Thibs will be available soon.

Seriously though, they should keep him for at least another year. Not having the team completely fold has been impressive in some ways.

 

[BleedGopher]

STrib: Twins coaching staff shuffle isn't out of the question

It might not take long for the Twins to start making moves with 2019 in mind.

Early next week, the front office is expected to meet with manager Paul Molitor about the soon-to-be completed season and discuss the future of his coaching staff. Given that the club failed to build on last year’s run to an AL wild-card berth, changes are not out of the question.

“Typically, in the first week of the offseason you get everything, generally, cleaned up relative to what you think you are going to do moving forward,” Twins Chief Baseball Officer Derek Falvey said in an interview Wednesday. “Those are conversations that are going to happen internally with our group, with Paul and we will go from there.”

And will those meetings also might focus on Molitor’s status for next season. During an interview Wednesday, Twins owner Jim Pohlad would not give Molitor a vote of confidence, preferring to wait until he meets with Falvey and General Manager Thad Levine once the season ends.

“I have no idea what they are going to come with,” Pohlad said. “No matter if we win the World Series or have a disappointing season like this, they are going to come with recommendations. Some of those recommendations could be personnel changes, some could be methodology changes. I don’t know but I look forward to that.”

Molitor, who is under contract for next season, has said that he wants to return. Saturday, he expressed optimism that he will have the same staff to work with next season.

“I haven’t talked about it much,” Molitor said when asked if he thought all his coaches would return next season. “In my mind, when I have my exit meetings with our front office people this week, I’m sure we’ll discuss all those things. I don’t even know the status for who is locked in [contractually]* next year. I think they’re on different schedules.

“I’m optimistic about us being able to stay together.”

http://www.startribune.com/twins-coaching-staff-shuffle-isn-t-out-of-the-question/494712261/

Win Twins!!

 

[BleedGopher]

Reusse: Max Kepler's regression is greatest Twins mystery of all

Max Kepler will lead the 2018 Twins in games played, plate appearances and walks. Entering the final two games, he had 56 RBI and a .400 slugging percentage, compared to 69 and .425 when he ended 2017.

And there’s a number that is unfathomable: Kepler’s batting average sat at .222 after the doubleheader sweep of the Chicago White Sox on Friday.

Miguel Sano allowed himself to get in horrible physical condition, became injury-prone and will finish a lost, 25-year-old season batting .199. Byron Buxton doesn’t have hitter’s hands (like Eddie Rosario), compensates by being a guess hitter, has remained injury-prone, and his 24-year-old season was a waste.

Kepler is tremendously well-conditioned, has a swing that should be successful, and he has spent much of his 25-year-old season batting in the .220s. Even with the baseballwide de-emphasis on average, the .220s are preposterous for a corner outfielder with Kepler’s abilities.

“He pulls his hands in trying to power the ball to right field and gets tied up inside too often,’’ a former big-leaguer said this weekend.

Manager Paul Molitor was asked how Kepler — injury-free, excellent condition, a swing flaw that should be correctable — can be a .222 hitter?

“I think a lot of this game is momentum and confidence,’’ Molitor said. “I think that the numbers staring at you … sometimes you’re just trying too hard to prevent them from going the wrong way. It’s like the more you try to correct your slice, the farther it goes right.’’

Asked if he “liked Kepler’s swing,’’ Molitor said: “You look at the ball he hit [Thursday] for a base hit … coming off the bat at 104 miles per hour. We like him — like other guys, we’re trying to get him to see the bigger picture of a game, and not always about your swing, your swing.’’

http://www.startribune.com/max-kepler-s-regression-is-greatest-twins-mystery-of-all/494710061/

Win Twins!!

 

[BleedGopher]

per Pat:

PLUS THREE

On the plus side for the Twins:

• Kyle Gibson proved he deserves a multiyear contract. Gibson and Jose Berrios are an excellent start for a rotation for 2019.

• Jake Cave can be written in as a fourth outfielder and lefthanded DH. He’s one actual success for the Twins’ DFA diving.

• If Joe Mauer retires, Mitch Garver can move to first, and then the Twins can have a 2019 platoon at catcher — Jason Castro and, yes, Willians (The Wonder) Astudillo.

http://www.startribune.com/max-kepler-s-regression-is-greatest-twins-mystery-of-all/494710061/

Win Twins!!

 

[BleedGopher]

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[WorkingMyTailOff]

per Pat:

PLUS THREE

On the plus side for the Twins:

• Kyle Gibson proved he deserves a multiyear contract. Gibson and Jose Berrios are an excellent start for a rotation for 2019.

• Jake Cave can be written in as a fourth outfielder and lefthanded DH. He’s one actual success for the Twins’ DFA diving.

• If Joe Mauer retires, Mitch Garver can move to first, and then the Twins can have a 2019 platoon at catcher — Jason Castro and, yes, Willians (The Wonder) Astudillo.

http://www.startribune.com/max-kepler-s-regression-is-greatest-twins-mystery-of-all/494710061/

Win Twins!!

I actually like these bullet points. Am I settling?
Maybe these past 6 weeks of twins baseball have provided a little value for 2019.

 

[Breakin' The Plane]

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Win Twins!!

Sure looked likely with the way things went down today. A very "Joe Mauer" retirement. No fanfare, no retirement tour, just a simple last time putting on the catcher's gear, a wave to the crowd and hugs for the teammates.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

Reusse has been tweeting that he thinks Falvine will dump Molitor in about a week. I think he may be right. I suspect Falvine want a younger manager who is more in-tune with "modern" baseball - analytics, lots of home runs and strike-outs, low batting average, etc.

 

[Breakin' The Plane]

Reusse has been tweeting that he thinks Falvine will dump Molitor in about a week. I think he may be right. I suspect Falvine want a younger manager who is more in-tune with "modern" baseball - analytics, lots of home runs and strike-outs, low batting average, etc.

I'd rather have ownership get rid of Falvine than Molitor. It's too soon to tell if the trades they've made were a success, but everything else has been a huge miss.

 

[BleedGopher]

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Win Twins!!

 

[BleedGopher]

Rand: Can Twins replace Joe Mauer as the face of the franchise?

From the moment he was drafted No. 1 overall in 2001 to the time he made his Twins debut in 2004 through what quite possibly was his last major league at-bat Sunday, Joe Mauer has filled an undeniable role as a face — often the face — of the Twins organization.

That role might have diminished in recent years as Mauer’s production waned and new Twins players tried to fill the void, but in looking ahead to a potentially Mauer-less 2019 season this much is obvious: The Twins do not have someone ready to take his place in that face-of-the-franchise role.

Brian Dozier was starting to grow into that territory, but he was traded at the deadline. Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton have been pushed by Twins marketers into that area, but the regression of both in a disastrous 2018 season means neither can be counted on for such a thing in 2019.

Eddie Rosario is a viable candidate, but on a great team he’d be in a supporting role instead of a starring role. Jose Berrios? Same as Rosario.

“Face of a franchise” might be a slightly overrated and abstract concept, but it becomes more noticeable in its absence. It speaks to a team’s identity, and as anonymous as this 2018 Twins team felt, it could be even more so without Mauer in 2019.

http://www.startribune.com/can-twins-replace-joe-mauer-as-the-face-of-the-franchise/494749431/

Win Twins!!

 

[Bad Gopher]

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He admits it's a guess, and he's wrong an awful lot.

Molitor arguably produced a better outcome than last year in terms of wins when you consider all the problems and misfortunes the team went through. That said - and this has been the case for some time - he makes so many head-scratching tactical and strategic moves that I sometimes wonder whether he's exhibiting cognitive decline. I love the guy, but I have to be honest. There are better managers you can find.

 

[BleedGopher]

per Shooter:

Eight years ago, the Twins removed the 14 pine trees as a center-field backdrop that had added an attractive, aesthetic look to Target Field. Players complained that the trees interrupted the ballpark’s batter’s eye.

Don’t be surprised if for next season juniper trees are planted in center field to replace the sorely-missed pines.

https://www.twincities.com/2018/09/...ings-replace-mike-zimmer-with-john-defilippo/

Win Twins!!

 

[saintpaulguy]

per Shooter:

Eight years ago, the Twins removed the 14 pine trees as a center-field backdrop that had added an attractive, aesthetic look to Target Field. Players complained that the trees interrupted the ballpark’s batter’s eye.

Don’t be surprised if for next season juniper trees are planted in center field to replace the sorely-missed pines.

https://www.twincities.com/2018/09/...ings-replace-mike-zimmer-with-john-defilippo/

Win Twins!!

From the land of Sky Blue Waters
From the land of junipers, lofty balsams...

 

[saintpaulguy]

Went to the ballpark on Saturday and Sunday. The Twins really did a nice job with Joe, and for all the fans. I'll miss him.

Let's play--who is on the cover of the 2019 media guide? This year was Buxton and Dozier....

 

[BleedGopher]

Shama: Twins Need 2019 Mauer Farewell Season

Joe Mauer can give the Twins a much needed marketing mission for next season if he decides to continue his career. That is the opinion of a sports industry business analyst that has been close to the Twins organization for years.

The club finished the 2018 season yesterday with an unexpected and disappointing 78-84 record. Mauer, the Twins’ 35-year-old first baseman who is unsure whether he wants to continue his 15-year MLB career, is one of the few players on the roster who sells tickets. The roster is one of the least appealing in franchise memory and Mauer, along with outfielder Eddie Rosario, lead any short list of box office attractions.

Mauer has only hit above .300 once in the last five seasons but the legendary Minnesota-born athlete has won three American League batting titles and the AL MVP Award. The sports industry source didn’t want his name used but he believes there was a period when Mauer may have been the most popular pro athlete in state history.

The source believes the Twins have been contemplating a 2019 marketing campaign built around a Mauer farewell season. “The organization needs to find something to promote,” he said.

http://shamasportsheadliners.com/

Win Twins!!

 

[Bad Gopher]

“The organization needs to find something to promote,”

It would indeed be a welcome break from promoting the anniversaries of past good teams.

 

[howeda7]

They can promote Manny Machado after they sign him for 10 years/$300 million.

 

[GophersInIowa]

I'd rather have ownership get rid of Falvine than Molitor. It's too soon to tell if the trades they've made were a success, but everything else has been a huge miss.

Ready to give up on them this quickly? Farm system is as strong as it's been for a long time. Payroll was the largest it has ever been by a good amount. The free agent pick ups didn't work out but they were extremely low risk moves. At least there weren't any long term deals like Nolasco or Hughes were. They'll have a lot of money to spend the next year or two.

 

[GophersInIowa]

Went to the ballpark on Saturday and Sunday. The Twins really did a nice job with Joe, and for all the fans. I'll miss him.

Let's play--who is on the cover of the 2019 media guide? This year was Buxton and Dozier....

Rosario and Berrios

 

[JimmyJamesMD]

The future looked so bright for the Twins

 

[Breakin' The Plane]

Went to the ballpark on Saturday and Sunday. The Twins really did a nice job with Joe, and for all the fans. I'll miss him.

Let's play--who is on the cover of the 2019 media guide? This year was Buxton and Dozier....

Rosario for sure. Probably Berrios too.

 

[Breakin' The Plane]

Ready to give up on them this quickly? Farm system is as strong as it's been for a long time. Payroll was the largest it has ever been by a good amount. The free agent pick ups didn't work out but they were extremely low risk moves. At least there weren't any long term deals like Nolasco or Hughes were. They'll have a lot of money to spend the next year or two.

No, but if it's one or the other, I'd much rather keep Molitor.

Also, I'm not enamored with the idea of having two people in charge. Should be a GM who has final say. I get the sense everything is a collaborative effort with these guys.

 

[BleedGopher]

Chip: Paul Molitor's low on blame scale for Twins' struggles; he should remain as manager

On the day that he fired his longtime General Manager Terry Ryan in 2016, Twins owner Jim Pohlad gave manager Paul Molitor the strongest vote of confidence possible.

Pohlad mandated that whomever the organization picked to run the baseball operation would be required to keep Molitor for the 2017 season, no questions asked. End of discussion.

Last week, Pohlad declined to offer a similar show of support to his manager when sharing his thoughts on this season’s debacle. Molitor’s fate, Pohlad told the Star Tribune, depends on the evaluation of his new brain trust, Derek Falvey and Thad Levine.

“I have no idea what they are going to come with,” Pohlad said. “No matter if we win the World Series or have a disappointing season like this, they are going to come with recommendations. Some of those recommendations could be personnel changes, some could be methodology changes. I don’t know, but I look forward to that.”

Blaming Molitor for this mess by firing him would be the wrong recommendation, if that option is being discussed internally.

Oh, he would be an easy scapegoat, and cleaning house might appease an angry mob of fans who have grown weary of the organization’s plodding ways. But Falvey and Levine should first look in the mirror when assessing how the season went haywire before even Opening Day.

http://www.startribune.com/paul-mol...uggles-he-should-remain-as-manager/494866341/

Win Twins!!

 

[BleedGopher]

STrib: Retire? Joe Mauer's father says, 'I think he's still got more'

Absent some memorable postseason heroics — and sorry to say, that category hasn’t applied in Minnesota for decades — there could hardly be a better, more sentimental goodbye for a longtime ballplayer than the heartwarming spectacle of Joe Mauer crouching behind the plate Sunday.

But what if it wasn’t goodbye? One prominent observer of the Twins hometown hero believes it would be a mistake for Mauer to walk away at the tender young age of 35. Of course, he might be biased.

“I think he’s still got more, I really do,” said Jake Mauer, father of Sunday’s honoree. “He can still hit and play pretty good defense. … We’ll see.”

Joe Mauer has said he realizes that making such a drastic decision while still winding down from the grind of 162 games and the disappointment of yet another season spent miles from a pennant race would be a mistake. So even as he acted all Lou Gehrig on Sunday, thanking the fans and his teammates and shedding a few tears on the field, he still reserved the right to go Bartolo Colon on his career.

“I want to give myself some time to decompress and really make a good decision,” he said Sunday, still occasionally choking up as he spoke. “Emotions are all over the place. I just want to give myself the chance to step away for a second.”

http://www.startribune.com/retire-joe-mauer-s-father-thinks-he-still-has-more-for-twins/494871191/

Win Twins!!

 

[GopherWeatherGuy]

No, but if it's one or the other, I'd much rather keep Molitor.

Also, I'm not enamored with the idea of having two people in charge. Should be a GM who has final say. I get the sense everything is a collaborative effort with these guys.

Really, why? Many of Molitors moves, especially late game pitching decisions are terrible. His lineups are also all over the place.

In two years Falvine has strengthened the farm system along with not signing anyone to bad contracts. Even though they were a fringe playoff team last year, and people had the same hopes this year, they were never going to be a legitimate threat without better pitching. They did what they could to improve the pitching, but great pitchers are rarely available through free agency. You have to develop those from within.

Falvine has reversed the damage Terry Ryan was doing, and this team is setup well for the future. It just takes time, in baseball more than any other sport.

 

[BleedGopher]

Wow:

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Win Twins!!

 

[GopherJake]

Guess that stunt with Mauer - essentially forcing him to now retire - was the tipping point. What with Falvine vigorously trying to get him to stay one more year.............. Or maybe Mauer said it's him or me!

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[JimmyJamesMD]

Wow:

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Win Twins!!

A year to late. I'm indifferent. Managers get to much blame when they suck, too much credit when they win. But my guess is they wanted to fire him last season but the WC run put the ki-bosh on that. Have some conviction and some balls and get the guy you want in there.