Today's Twins news going around sports radio is that the Twins are on pace to sell the least number of tickets they have sold since the opening of Target Field in 2010. The Twins have no one to blame, but themselves.
Twins have a fantastic fan base, but it's a very smart fan base as well for the most part. They can see right through what is going on in the front office. Fans got very excited when the Twins added pitchers Ricky Nolasco and Phil Hughes, but fans knew that there was still more needed to make this team contend this season.
Twins fans have seen enough of Plouffe, Florimon, Kubel, Parmelee, Colabello, etc. How are they going to sell us that this team is going to even be around 500 when they still have guys like Pelfrey, Correia, and Deduno in the rotation? How can they sell us on a DH of either Kubel, Parmelee, or Colabello? What about a shortstop like Florimon who can't hit his weight? A catcher like Suzuki, who his best days offensively are behind him?
The Twins are relying too heavily on guys like Hicks, Willingham, and Arcia to make big jumps this year offensively to even be anywhere near 500. Rob Antony, Twins assistant GM was on 1500 ESPN this morning and claims that they didn't want to block young players by signing veteran guys. Aren't you suppose to earn a spot on a roster? Why would it be so bad to make these young kids play well enough that you have to move a veteran player like say Nelson Cruz or Stephen Drew? Plouffe has essentially had no competition what so ever at third base for 3 seasons and now and what has that done? He seems to be getting worse, not only defensively, but offensively as well. Yet, we keep sending him out there with no competition and watching him fumble the ball all over the infield and strikeout at a way too high of a rate.
Haven't the Twins ever heard of, you've got to spend money to make money? Give Santana that extra year so that you force guys like Correia and Pelfrey to earn a spot in that rotation. Give Stephen Drew some cash to force Florimon and Plouffe to earn their spot. Give Cruz some money to force Arica, Hicks, and Willingham to get that roster spot.
I thought this scholarship program was over this year, but as Spring Training continues to play out, it's obvious it's still thriving here and doesn't seem to be going anywhere. Force Buxton, Meyer, May, and every other prospect to EARN a spot on your 25 man roster. You can't assume anything. Look at Sano, everyone thought they'd see him at Target Field this season, and now we'd be lucky to see by the end of 2015. Benson was suppose to be this can't miss guy and look where he is at now. Parmelee absolutely demolished AAA, but still can't figure it out at the major league level. Nothing is guaranteed with these prospects, so start paying veteran players and FORCE young players to earn their way onto this roster.
The Twins seem to always play this, well just wait until this farm system gets up here game, which has been cute for awhile, but ticket sales are proving that it doesn't last long, especially when they get hurt or don't produce immediately once they arrive. Yes, you have to overpay to get some guys to come here, but I'd rather them be aggressive and have that fail then just sit back and hope some young guy comes up for much cheaper. The Twins payroll is just over 80 million and should be over 90 every year with Target Field.
This is getting ridiculous, and don't feel sorry for the Twins what so ever about their ticket sales. Go out and put together a roster that's actually respectable and then you will get the money in ticket sales. The honeymoon period of Target Field is over, it's time to make moves or become that forgotten franchise in town again, like they were after Puckett retired in the mid 90s.
The Twins need to stop selling us on the farm system so much and start putting out some legit major league talent on a daily basis and their ticket sales will show that. It seems like the only guys they'll ever spend money on is home grown guys and you just can't win only doing that nowadays. Look at the shortstop fiasco right now for this club. If Danny Santana can't ever figure it out defensively, we could be looking at a hole there for the next 5 years for crying out loud. If you sign Drew, you at least have a legit SS for the next 2 to 3 seasons and it forces Santana to figure it out or he won't ever get up here. Instead, we'll likely see him in September regardless of how good he has become defensively, just to try and showcase him as our future shortstop.
All in all, it's time to stop with this selling of the farm and worry about 2014. Stop planning for 2016 and beyond, because chances are things won't play out the way you expect them. As a die hard Twins fan, I hope the future is as bright as it seems, but how about we actually worry about the now for once? I'd like to see a half way decent product at Target Field this season. Sure hope these young guys take huge strides this year, but something tells me another 90 loss season is on its way to Minneapolis.
Written by Nick Calo, follow me on Twitter for more updates and sports thoughts @PRH1987
Twins have a fantastic fan base, but it's a very smart fan base as well for the most part. They can see right through what is going on in the front office. Fans got very excited when the Twins added pitchers Ricky Nolasco and Phil Hughes, but fans knew that there was still more needed to make this team contend this season.
Twins fans have seen enough of Plouffe, Florimon, Kubel, Parmelee, Colabello, etc. How are they going to sell us that this team is going to even be around 500 when they still have guys like Pelfrey, Correia, and Deduno in the rotation? How can they sell us on a DH of either Kubel, Parmelee, or Colabello? What about a shortstop like Florimon who can't hit his weight? A catcher like Suzuki, who his best days offensively are behind him?
The Twins are relying too heavily on guys like Hicks, Willingham, and Arcia to make big jumps this year offensively to even be anywhere near 500. Rob Antony, Twins assistant GM was on 1500 ESPN this morning and claims that they didn't want to block young players by signing veteran guys. Aren't you suppose to earn a spot on a roster? Why would it be so bad to make these young kids play well enough that you have to move a veteran player like say Nelson Cruz or Stephen Drew? Plouffe has essentially had no competition what so ever at third base for 3 seasons and now and what has that done? He seems to be getting worse, not only defensively, but offensively as well. Yet, we keep sending him out there with no competition and watching him fumble the ball all over the infield and strikeout at a way too high of a rate.
Haven't the Twins ever heard of, you've got to spend money to make money? Give Santana that extra year so that you force guys like Correia and Pelfrey to earn a spot in that rotation. Give Stephen Drew some cash to force Florimon and Plouffe to earn their spot. Give Cruz some money to force Arica, Hicks, and Willingham to get that roster spot.
I thought this scholarship program was over this year, but as Spring Training continues to play out, it's obvious it's still thriving here and doesn't seem to be going anywhere. Force Buxton, Meyer, May, and every other prospect to EARN a spot on your 25 man roster. You can't assume anything. Look at Sano, everyone thought they'd see him at Target Field this season, and now we'd be lucky to see by the end of 2015. Benson was suppose to be this can't miss guy and look where he is at now. Parmelee absolutely demolished AAA, but still can't figure it out at the major league level. Nothing is guaranteed with these prospects, so start paying veteran players and FORCE young players to earn their way onto this roster.
The Twins seem to always play this, well just wait until this farm system gets up here game, which has been cute for awhile, but ticket sales are proving that it doesn't last long, especially when they get hurt or don't produce immediately once they arrive. Yes, you have to overpay to get some guys to come here, but I'd rather them be aggressive and have that fail then just sit back and hope some young guy comes up for much cheaper. The Twins payroll is just over 80 million and should be over 90 every year with Target Field.
This is getting ridiculous, and don't feel sorry for the Twins what so ever about their ticket sales. Go out and put together a roster that's actually respectable and then you will get the money in ticket sales. The honeymoon period of Target Field is over, it's time to make moves or become that forgotten franchise in town again, like they were after Puckett retired in the mid 90s.
The Twins need to stop selling us on the farm system so much and start putting out some legit major league talent on a daily basis and their ticket sales will show that. It seems like the only guys they'll ever spend money on is home grown guys and you just can't win only doing that nowadays. Look at the shortstop fiasco right now for this club. If Danny Santana can't ever figure it out defensively, we could be looking at a hole there for the next 5 years for crying out loud. If you sign Drew, you at least have a legit SS for the next 2 to 3 seasons and it forces Santana to figure it out or he won't ever get up here. Instead, we'll likely see him in September regardless of how good he has become defensively, just to try and showcase him as our future shortstop.
All in all, it's time to stop with this selling of the farm and worry about 2014. Stop planning for 2016 and beyond, because chances are things won't play out the way you expect them. As a die hard Twins fan, I hope the future is as bright as it seems, but how about we actually worry about the now for once? I'd like to see a half way decent product at Target Field this season. Sure hope these young guys take huge strides this year, but something tells me another 90 loss season is on its way to Minneapolis.
Written by Nick Calo, follow me on Twitter for more updates and sports thoughts @PRH1987