I'm not sure that this season could have met a more catastrophic end. Sure, the Twins were able to look like they had a pulse when they would play teams like the Royals, Red Sox and Giants, but when they squared off against foes with any semblance of competence, the wheels swiftly and dramatically came off. To wit, they have gone 1-9 against the Cleveland Guardians, the team presently in first place in the Central. First place by a lot after running rough shod over the Twins.
There has been an incredible amount of ill will towards the Twins in response to this pitiful end of the year. Judd Zulgad and Phil Mackey pin a lot of blame on Rocco Baldelli. Aaron Gleeman questions the decisions of the front office. Sure, questions can be asked of all of them, and I maintain that three years in a row of bad luck (i.e. another rough year next year) can no longer really be called bad luck any longer. But we aren't there yet.
I can also appreciate the opinion that the Twins need to make some moves. It would be intolerable for a team to crater like the Twins have and just stand pat in the offseason. The Twins were expected to finish approximately where they will finish - around .500, but the path to getting there has made everyone look bad. Looking at where things went sour should direct the Twins as to where they should proceed this off -season.
The inflection point of this season, to me, was late May. I think that rings true for a lot of people, as it was their last winning month. It was also the month in which Wes Johnson left the team, and injuries started to pile up. They have to be related, right? So then it has to be addressed.
Before anything else, the pitching coaching staff must be overhauled. Pete Maki was in over his as a midseason replacement. Maybe a full offseason of preparation would do wonders, but then, Maki was the minor league pitching coordinator since 2017, and should have a decent feel for the team and the players. If the Twins wanted to keep him on the staff, that is one thing, but I have to believe that Maki and bullpen coach Colby Suggs need to be replaced to even begin to appease the naysayers.
I'm not a medical expert, so I have no idea how to treat this situation. The trainers and doctors on staff are probably very good. They have certainly been busy. But something tangible needs to be addressed. Even if it is bad luck, that luck is bound to change, and the front office would look like they had done something credible to resolve an overwhelming issue from the prior season. Whatever it is they do. Add a trainer, remove a trainer, introduce an organization wide calisthenics program for the offseason. Something!
But make no mistake, this is a front office that WILL do something. Whenever they've had a hole to fill, they've tried to fill it. Right now might be the time to be forthright with what went wrong, and what they were trying to do. The pitching staff situation makes sense to me, even if it doesn't to everyone. The team started with Sonny Gray, Dylan Bundy, Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, Chris Archer, Josh Winder, and Chris Paddack, 7 starters for 5 spots. Archer and Paddack have not been healthy for a while, and Winder was just now becoming a major leaguer.
I think the Twins were attempting to have a two starter per game system. They were famously quick to remove starters after two turns through a lineup, and having Chris Archer and Chris Paddack combine to go through full games would save their arms and the bullpen, all while putting together an elite performance. Dylan Bundy and Josh Winder could do the same, or with one or two injuries, they could have hoped that Griffin Jax, (who ultimately landed in the 'pen), Jordan Balazovic or Cole Sands could have dropped into one of those low exposure roles.
I think it could have worked, but they were beset by injuries. Archer was over exposed and the bullpen was overworked. Nobody ever seemed to come back, and then the pitching coach left. We haven't heard this explanation from the front office yet. If this is an accurate assessment, we should! One of the criticisms has been that they don't know how to add starters. Laying this plan out would have demonstrated at least, well, a plan.
And then, after that, I have no solid advice, or even wishes for this organization. They have done everything I've wanted. They've been aggressive in acquiring assets. They resigned Byron Buxton, and even shelled out for Josh Donaldson and then Carlos Correa. They've become more modern in almost every way, and they are still getting the same results as the team did before they took over.
This front office has been calculated when playing the free agent market, but they've always come away with players. Being calculated doesn't mean cheap, and they have shelled out for players that will come here. They've traded at deadlines where they were sellers and buyers. At least when taken at odds with the prior administrations, they will do something this offseason. Maybe they won't fix what is ailing this team, but Derek Falvey, Thad Levine and Rocco Baldelli are sure going to try.
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