All Things 2023 Minnesota Twins In-Season Thread

[From the Parkinglot]

There’s a reason Chapman signed with KC this offseason though. He was not good last year.

Neither was Pagan. Who do you think provided more upside? Emilo Pagan who wrecked the Padres in 2021 and then wrecked the Twins in 2022 or Chapman. My point was money could have easily been found to provide something different in the bullpen vs just bringing the same gang back again from last year. The whole reason the twins lost in 2022 was the bullpen and they brought everyone back. Lone behold they have the same issues again. Now the offense could help and score 5 runs vs 3 runs to help the team win, but here we are.

 

[GophersInIowa]

Neither was Pagan. Who do you think provided more upside? Emilo Pagan who wrecked the Padres in 2021 and then wrecked the Twins in 2022 or Chapman. My point was money could have easily been found to provide something different in the bullpen vs just bringing the same gang back again from last year. The whole reason the twins lost in 2022 was the bullpen and they brought everyone back. Lone behold they have the same issues again. Now the offense could help and score 5 runs vs 3 runs to help the team win, but here we are.

No I get it. I was excited for the bullpen but felt they needed another piece. I'm not sure adding Chapman during the offseason would have excited most but so far he's shown he can still pitch.

 

[El Amin Fan]

Sadly this is shaping into a meh season, one in which any decent to good team would run away from the AL Central foes, but one now in which we'll hover around .500 hoping every one else in the division continues to suck, and that somehow we can get hot in the playoffs. A story as old as time.

 

[tikited]

It’s that damn healthy lifestyle that players practice now. Babe Ruth lived on a steady diet of hot dogs, beer, and hookers and didn’t miss a game.

 

[golf]

Looks like we'll stay above .500. Good game today.

 

[Ope3]

No I get it. I was excited for the bullpen but felt they needed another piece. I'm not sure adding Chapman during the offseason would have excited most but so far he's shown he can still pitch.

The Randolph Rocket being out since early May hasn't helped the Twins BP cause. Thielbar has just started throwing, so he will probably need a least a couple rehab games too. Best case 10 days away?

 

[From the Parkinglot]

Go - Go Twins today with all the stolen bases.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

this whole "react to a baseball game as if it was a football game" mentality is getting to me.

it is a practical impossibility to:
-fire the manager
-fire the hitting coach
-fire the pitching coach
-send half the roster to the minors or release them

after every game.

I'm not saying that we should give the team a pass. criticism is warranted. but like it or not, it is a long season, and things can change.

the owners and people in the front office are not (at least I choose to believe they are not) raving idiots. they see the same things that you and I see. and now the question becomes, how do they react? what moves do they make? will they be active at the trading deadline?

and BTW - let's not forget that the Twins are - at the present time - not getting paid by Bally's. that's a potential $40-million shortfall in the budget, which the owners are damn sure aware of. that could also impact any moves they make as far as taking on more payroll.

 

[Ope3]

this whole "react to a baseball game as if it was a football game" mentality is getting to me.

it is a practical impossibility to:
-fire the manager
-fire the hitting coach
-fire the pitching coach
-send half the roster to the minors or release them

after every game.

I'm not saying that we should give the team a pass. criticism is warranted. but like it or not, it is a long season, and things can change.

the owners and people in the front office are not (at least I choose to believe they are not) raving idiots. they see the same things that you and I see. and now the question becomes, how do they react? what moves do they make? will they be active at the trading deadline?

and BTW - let's not forget that the Twins are - at the present time - not getting paid by Bally's. that's a potential $40-million shortfall in the budget, which the owners are damn sure aware of. that could also impact any moves they make as far as taking on more payroll.

Preaching to the choir.

The Bally's thing is really an unknown. I don't think they would be out the entire $40mil, but certainly some unknown percentage could be gone and is already delayed at the very least.

 

[From the Parkinglot]

Uh-Oh

 

[howeda7]

this whole "react to a baseball game as if it was a football game" mentality is getting to me.

it is a practical impossibility to:
-fire the manager
-fire the hitting coach
-fire the pitching coach
-send half the roster to the minors or release them

after every game.

I'm not saying that we should give the team a pass. criticism is warranted. but like it or not, it is a long season, and things can change.

the owners and people in the front office are not (at least I choose to believe they are not) raving idiots. they see the same things that you and I see. and now the question becomes, how do they react? what moves do they make? will they be active at the trading deadline?

and BTW - let's not forget that the Twins are - at the present time - not getting paid by Bally's. that's a potential $40-million shortfall in the budget, which the owners are damn sure aware of. that could also impact any moves they make as far as taking on more payroll.

On the Bally's thing, MLB is most likely making them partially whole for now and they will eventually get some of their $$ from Bally's. I'm not saying it's not an issue at all, but they are not going to be out the entire $40 million at the end of the day and I doubt they are going to let it impact their in season payroll decisions.

 

[From the Parkinglot]

On the Bally's thing, MLB is most likely making them partially whole for now and they will eventually get some of their $$ from Bally's. I'm not saying it's not an issue at all, but they are not going to be out the entire $40 million at the end of the day and I doubt they are going to let it impact their in season payroll decisions.

I think both of those are pretty big assumptions. Being made partially whole now and then maybe getting more money in the future from Bally’s doesn’t help the now. They still have full bills and payroll to make now. I don’t think this will impact their in season spending, but they are either using up cash reserves or getting financing from somewhere to keep paying the bills.

 

[GophersInIowa]

Uh-Oh

Insane

 

[tmvander]

Ugh...I've had plantar fasciitis before and it isn't fun. You can play with it as it does loosen up but then the next day it hurts worse than the day before. He'll likely require an IL stint or will be playing with pain all year.

 

[golf]

Do we have any healthy players? Maybe a few pitchers, that's about it.

 

[Ski U Mah Gopher]

Ugh...I've had plantar fasciitis before and it isn't fun. You can play with it as it does loosen up but then the next day it hurts worse than the day before. He'll likely require an IL stint or will be playing with pain all year.

When I hear plantar fasciitis, the name Micheal Williams comes to mind.

Fortunately, baseball puts less pressure on the heel than basketball does.

 

[Ope3]

It’s that damn healthy lifestyle that players practice now. Babe Ruth lived on a steady diet of hot dogs, beer, and hookers and didn’t miss a game.

By today's standards I'm sure the Bambino is considered an Iron Horse as far as games played, but he did miss a substantial amount of contests (other than 1928).

He also died at 53 so perhaps not a training regimen the modern ball player would model themselves after. I'm sure it was fun though.

Babe Ruth Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More | Baseball-Reference.com

Check out the latest Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More of Babe Ruth. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, draft status, bats, throws, school and more on Baseball-reference.com

www.baseball-reference.com

 

[howeda7]

Neither was Pagan. Who do you think provided more upside? Emilo Pagan who wrecked the Padres in 2021 and then wrecked the Twins in 2022 or Chapman. My point was money could have easily been found to provide something different in the bullpen vs just bringing the same gang back again from last year. The whole reason the twins lost in 2022 was the bullpen and they brought everyone back. Lone behold they have the same issues again. Now the offense could help and score 5 runs vs 3 runs to help the team win, but here we are.

Chapman was a cheap gamble. So was Brad Hand. Both have been great and far, far better than Pagan.

 

[howeda7]

I think both of those are pretty big assumptions. Being made partially whole now and then maybe getting more money in the future from Bally’s doesn’t help the now. They still have full bills and payroll to make now. I don’t think this will impact their in season spending, but they are either using up cash reserves or getting financing from somewhere to keep paying the bills.

I think the Pohlads can handle it. Thankfully we don't have the A's owners.

 

[GophersInIowa]

By today's standards I'm sure the Bambino is considered an Iron Horse as far as games played, but he did miss a substantial amount of contests (other than 1928).

He also died at 53 so perhaps not a training regimen the modern ball player would model themselves after. I'm sure it was fun though.

Babe Ruth Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More | Baseball-Reference.com

Check out the latest Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More of Babe Ruth. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, draft status, bats, throws, school and more on Baseball-reference.com

www.baseball-reference.com

Two random things I noticed about Babe:

1. Did not know he played his last season for the Boston Braves.
2. Was he disqualified from the MVP voting for some reason? He won it in 1923, had pretty much the same type of season the next and didn't receive a vote? Then got no votes for a number of years after that even though he clearly should have been at or near the top.

Edit: well a simple google search would have answered 2. Apparently there use to be a rule where you could not vote for someone that has already won MVP. Really weird rule.

 

[Ope3]

Two random things I noticed about Babe:

1. Did not know he played his last season for the Boston Braves.
2. Was he disqualified from the MVP voting for some reason? He won it in 1923, had pretty much the same type of season the next and didn't receive a vote? Then got no votes for a number of years after that even though he clearly should have been at or near the top.

Edit: well a simple google search would have answered 2. Apparently there used to be a rule where you could not vote for someone that has already won MVP. Really weird rule.

Here's another factoid about Ruth, his last appearance in a Major League uniform (other than ceremonies) was actually as a Coach with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Interesting article as his hopes to someday be a Manager never materialized.

Babe Ruth, Brooklyn Dodgers Coach – Society for American Baseball Research

sabr.org

 

[short ornery norwegian]

Ugh...I've had plantar fasciitis before and it isn't fun. You can play with it as it does loosen up but then the next day it hurts worse than the day before. He'll likely require an IL stint or will be playing with pain all year.

every case is an individual matter. there is a guy who posts on Twins Daily who has a medical background, and he was saying that there are different levels or degrees of planter fasc. My brother is a track/cross-country coach. he had a lot of trouble with planter fasc until he got custom-made orthotic insoles, and he is still running at the age of 69 - just not as far or as fast......

 

[tmvander]

When I hear plantar fasciitis, the name Micheal Williams comes to mind.

Fortunately, baseball puts less pressure on the heel than basketball does.

I will say...when I did have it...I was thankfully able to tough it out and finish my slow pitch softball season.

But people know me around the hood as "Iron tmvander" and I know for a fact I'm SOOOOOO tough in comparison to a MN Twins player.

 

[tmvander]

every case is an individual matter. there is a guy who posts on Twins Daily who has a medical background, and he was saying that there are different levels or degrees of planter fasc. My brother is a track/cross-country coach. he had a lot of trouble with planter fasc until he got custom-made orthotic insoles, and he is still running at the age of 69 - just not as far or as fast......

Replied to the wrong post but see above...

 

[golf]

Twins are 2nd in ERA in majors, trailing only Houston. Hard to even comprehend that sentence but it is true.
Can make an argument we have the 2nd best staff in the majors.

Also, Twins staff is 1st in majors in strikeouts. Wow.

 

[GophersInIowa]

Twins are 2nd in ERA in majors, trailing only Houston. Hard to even comprehend that sentence but it is true.
Can make an argument we have the 2nd best staff in the majors.

Also, Twins staff is 1st in majors in strikeouts. Wow.

They're in the top half in runs scored per game too. That combination should result in a better record than it has. But as mentioned many times, runs scored is so inconsistent. In May they are averaging over 4.5 runs per game but have scored more than 4 runs just 8 out of 21 games. Naturally they are 7-1 in games they've scored 5+ in May. 2-11 in games they've scored 4 and under.

 

[golf]

They're in the top half in runs scored per game too. That combination should result in a better record than it has. But as mentioned many times, runs scored is so inconsistent. In May they are averaging over 4.5 runs per game but have scored more than 4 runs just 8 out of 21 games. Naturally they are 7-1 in games they've scored 5+ in May. 2-11 in games they've scored 4 and under.

Yep, just really frustrating not taking advantage of such excellent starting pitching.

 

[#2Gopher]

Remain calm. Nothing to see here.

This was my first reaction the other day. Now I'm concerned about this.

 

[golf]

This data is interesting. One way to interpret it is that we are better than our record shows. Losing too many close, winnable games.

MLB standings ordered by run differential: Rays no longer on top

The MLB standings ordered by run differential instead of wins and losses can shed light on which teams are under and overperforming

fansided.com

 

[BTChamp]

Twins are 2nd in ERA in majors, trailing only Houston. Hard to even comprehend that sentence but it is true.
Can make an argument we have the 2nd best staff in the majors.

Also, Twins staff is 1st in majors in strikeouts. Wow.

I saw the stat the other day about being first in strikeouts and immediately thought I was looking at the offensive numbers.