Offseason Wish List.

It's the worst time of the year, baseball off-season. However, to help hold me over until the snow melts again, I can talk about what the Twins should do to improve the club. And they should really listen to me, because I'm on Twitter a lot. Here is what I want to see from the Twins before the regular season starts.

TRIM THE 40 MAN FAT

The Twins have already got rid of some of the players who didn't deserve a spot on the 40 man going into the offseason. Johnny Field and Oliver Drake were already snatched up by other squads, and the Twins declined the options on Logan Morrison and Ervin Santana. That's a great start to opening up some spots for free agents and prospects, but I would go farther. There are 3 more pitchers who I think can be taken off. Chase De Jong, Tyler Duffey, and John Curtiss could all be removed today and I wouldn't bat (baseball joke) an eye. They are right handed relievers or swingman, and are totally replaceable. You could also get rid of Zack Granite and Robbie Grossman (especially since Grossman is due to make about 4 million this year) and I would be cool with that as well, especially after the team picked up Michael Reed.

GET A SHORTSTOP

Big distinction here. The Twins have about as much depth at middle infield as I have hair left on my head, but there Jorge Polanco is going to play either 2nd or short. I think he needs to shift over to 2nd, because he was pretty bad at short last year. There are a few players I would love for the Twins to target (field, man my jokes are lame).

In free agency, I would love the slick-fielding Jose Iglesias. If they are available for a trade, the Twins should try and snag either Jean Segura or Andrelton Simmons. Those two would take a significant haul of prospects to get them, but I'm willing to part with anyone not named Lewis or Kirilloff. Pair the new guy with Polanco and Ehire Adrianza as your bench dude, and you got a decent middle infield.

PITCHING

What's the award for most groundbreaking blog post? Well whatever it is, I'm about to win it for this bomb of news, the Twins need pitching. Let me just polish my bloggy here and tell you what they should do.

For the most part, they have a decent starting rotation (unless you go after Patrick Corbin or grab a stud in a trade), but the bullpen still needs some quality arms. Now I'm not a huge fan of paying a bunch for relievers, and I would rather go with starters as multi-inning relievers. There are a couple of guys in the Twins organization that I would love to see go that way, Fernando Romero and Adalberto Mejia.

If you have to go the free agency route for relief pitching, I would like David Robertson, Adam Ottavino, or Kelvin Herrera if you can get him on a one-year deal. Another option that I would really like since he can be effective as a starter or a 100-inning reliever would be Nathan Eovaldi. After his dominant October, he will probably cost a lot, but the Twins had a boatload of money to spend.

GRAB JOSH DONALDSON FOR 3RD BASE

Aside from the top two studs at the top of the draft class, Josh Donaldson has the best chance to make a huge impact for a ball club. The last couple years he's been struggling with injuries, but when he's healthy, he is pretty dang good. I would love to sign him for a 1 or 2 year deal (for as much money as he wants since it's not a long-term deal) with an option and see what he's got left in the tank. That means shifting Miguel Sano over to 1st base, which most people think he's going to end up over there anyway. 

And lastly...

SIGN ME TO A FRONT OFFICE POSITION

I'm assuming Derek Falvey and Thad Levine are big fans of the blog, so I figured I should make my pitch. I would be really good at grabbing coffee and I know some pretty good jokes. It could be the move to put the organization over the top. I'll be waiting for the phone call or DM on Twitter. Or you know, just do the other things on my wish list. Your choice.   

Thank You Joe

This shirsey symbolizes my heart today. I got this Mauer memorabilia years ago, and now, its worn down and past its prime. However, I still wear it and it gets the job done, much like Joe Mauer did for the final few years of his career. It's looking like Mauer could be done playing (he hasn't announced it, but with that event at Target Field yesterday it sure looks like it) it's time to get retrospective up in here.

What. A. Moment. 😭😭😭#JM7 #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/8IWw2TEPLq

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) September 30, 2018

Now that I've dried my tears from an amazing final game for the 2018 Twins, I want to look back at Mauer's career. He will always have a special place in my heart because he was the first superstar I ever watched for the Twins who started and ended his career in front of me. You should check out  other writers who can lay out their thoughts on Mauer better than I ever could (Aaron Gleeman, Derek Wetmore, and Dan Hayes are a good place to start, but there are many others) but to me, his career goes two separate ways. Let's take a look at some of the ways I will remember Joe Mauer.


1. Best In The Business

Joe Mauer is really, really good at baseball. He went into the 2001 draft as a Minnesota kid who could do it all athletically, including famously striking out just once in High School. Still, there was a large collection of fans who wanted the Twins to use the 1st overall pick on USC pitcher Mark Prior. The Twins made the right choice, as Prior had a great start to his career before it derailed because of injuries. Mauer currently has the 4th highest WAR ever for a 1st overall pick, behind generational talents Alex Rodriguez, Ken Griffey Jr, and Chipper Jones.


Even after his decreased numbers at 1st base, he currently has a career slash line of .306/.388/.439, and an OPS+ of 124. His OBP of .388 is the 5th highest among active players, behind Superstars Joey Votto, Mike Trout, Paul Goldschmidt, and Miguel Cabrera. His .306 career batting average is behind Cabrera, Jose Altuve, Ichiro (who is still listed as a current player), Votto and Trout on the active list. That's some really impressive company. He also did this while playing the majority of his game at the most grueling defensive position.


Mauer had one of the most memorable seasons for me when he won the 2009 MVP, hitting .365/.444/.587 with 28 homeruns. He did that while playing just 138 games, because he missed the first month or so of the season because of injuries.


Mauer is the only catcher ever in the American League to win a batting title, and he did it 3 times. In games played at catcher, Mauer collected an OPS of .890. That's the 3rd highest for the position all-time. Add in the fact that he was a really good defender (3 time Gold Glove winner) and Mauer was one of the best players in the MLB for a decade. Then you add 5 average to above-average seasons at a more offensive-oriented position, and that makes for one spectacular career.


2. Criticism

Even though he was a great player, it wasn't enough for a collection of the Twins' fan base. Mauer did some things that have never been done before on a MLB diamond, but he will be remember by some for the things he couldn't do.


Getting on base was and will always be Mauer's most valuable skill set, but for years he's been criticize by his lack of homerun power. Aside from his pop-up year in 2009 when he hit 28 bombs, Mauer's highest total was 13 in 2006. In his 15 years in the majors, he hit single digit homeruns in 9 of them. He's also penalized for his lack of RBI production, never breaking the 100 mark in a single season, despite hitting .334 for his career with runners in scoring position.


Mauer is one of us, so he is a quiet kid who doesn't like to put the attention on himself. That led him to be criticized for not being the vocal leader who would yell and rally the troops. However, there's a lot of articles out there about how Mauer was a great teammate. Just look at how all the players are talking about Sunday's game and you can see what type of impact Number 7 had on the organization.


Media members also took Mauer to task because of his lack of "toughness" and not willing to stay on the field. There was also the bilateral leg weakness fiasco from the Twins' front office that added to the fire that Mauer wasn't always willing to "rub some dirt on it" and get out there and play. Plus, there was and still is a notion that Mauer should never have gotten out from behind the plate. However, Mauer suffered a very serious brain injury that clearly affected his on field production (career OPS of .873 before the concussion and a .746 OPS after) and he decided to move out to 1st base to protect his overall well being after his playing days were over.


Last but certainly not least, Joe Mauer's contract. After years of winning battling titles while making a below-average salary, he signed an eight year contract where he made 23 million dollars a year. While he didn't produce as well as he did in his earlier years, that's pretty common for long-term deals in baseball. The idea that Mauer's contract was a hindrance on the team never made sense to me. The league doesn't have a salary, so the team's payroll can technically be as high as the ownership would want. Also, the team handed out bad contracts to starting pitchers that weren't that much less than what Mauer was making, so that had a bigger reasons for the teams struggles in my mind.


I'm rambling here. Joe Mauer is an amazing baseball player that didn't deserve all the hate that he got from this fan base. From what I've read and heard, he is a class act on and off the baseball field, which is more than we can say for other players who are put on a higher pedestal in this market. I hope Mauer finds himself in the Hall of Fame (which Jay Jaffe's JAW Measurement shows he has a good shot) but if he doesn't I will continue to wear my beaten-down shirsey with pride.

Helping The Future

There's no sugarcoating it, the Twins are bad. However, let's get optimistic up in here. While some of the team's biggest stars were some the biggest disappointments on the season, there are some players who have cemented themselves into the team's future plans. Let's take a peek at some under-the-radar guys who have quietly had good seasons.


Taylor Rogers


It started out real bad for Taylor Rogers this year, but he's turned it around for a really solid season. After April his ERA was almost 9. That's bad. Since the calendar flipped to May, Rogers has posted an ERA of 2.64. That's good. He's also has a 11.2 K/9 during that timespan. He's been death to lefties his whole career, but he's shown this year that he might deserve some more high-leverage innings moving forward.


Mitch Garver


#FreeMitch was something that Twins' fan were flooding social media with during the summer. Garver, who has shown to be an above-average bat for a catcher, was finding himself basically splitting time with journeyman Bobby Wilson. As the season has moved along, Garver is getting more and more playing time, and he's making it count. On the season, Garver is slashing .260/.331/.415, for an OPS+ of 101. Not exactly Joe Mauer in his prime, but having someone hold his own at the plate, while I believe making strides behind it, can be a valuable piece for next season.


Jake Cave


Ok, Jake Cave has been a good outfielder for the Twins. He is stretched defensively in center, but he will be a good corner outfielder. Then he's shown to have some pop at the plate, hitting .263/.313/.449. However, let's pump the brakes on saying he's the outfielder of the future and the Twins should trade Buxton or Kepler. That's not happening, and it shouldn't happen. What Cave has done has been really encouraging, and he deserves to make the opening day roster next year, just as a 4th outfielder with some upside.


Gabriel Moya


Video game numbers. That's what Gabriel Moya has had throughout his career in the minors. Seriously, look them up. It's bananas. Now, those amazing numbers are translating to the MLB. Since his latest call up, he has pitched to a 3.18 ERA in 17 innings with just one homerun allowed. He's pitched some high-leverage innings as well as multiple innings when a starter doesn't go deep into the game. He's definitely an intriguing arm to watch.


Tyler Austin


I think Tyler Austin has hit a couple homeruns lately that haven't landed yet. The dude has stupid power. WARNING SMALL SAMPLE SIZE ALERT: Tyler Austin has an OPS of 1.155 with the Twins, in just 12 games though. However, in a little larger sample, Austin has shown to be death to left-handed pitching. In his MLB career (120 plate appearances) he is hitting .304/.383/.657 with 11 homeruns against southpaws. That's a great skillset to have, especially with a lefty-heavy lineup. He could be a great platoon bat for Joe Mauer if he decides to come back next season.


See Twins' fans? It's not all sadness. It mostly is, but I'm trying here.

How to Survive a Terrible Season

It's all about picking your battles. As a Minnesota sports fans, I know all about watching my teams play meaningless games at the end of their respective seasons.


Sadly, this Twins season is no exception. The hometown nine have 42 games left, all of which have no drama or postseason implication. That's a lot of games, so how can a fan make it to the end without losing complete interest? Don't worry, I got you covered. Here are my tips and tricks to survive a terrible season by your favorite team.


DON'T GET CAUGHT UP IN WINS AND LOSSES
In these final games, aside from draft position, these games mean nothing for the Twins. That's why when you're watching don't worry too much about the final result, but instead what happens during the game. It will lower your stress level and make it easier to just six back and relax.


PAY ATTENTION TO THE YOUNGER PLAYER'S DEVELOPEMENT
There's always next year right? Well, for next year to be successful, you need younger players to take strides. Derek Wetmore of 1500 ESPN wrote an article laying out some of what Twins' fans should look for with some of the younger players on the team. A couple weeks back, Nick Nelson of Twins Daily also gave his readers some players to track in the final months. Keeping an eye on what the fresh faces are doing will help keep you invested longer.


DON'T PLAN YOUR LIFE AROUND THE GAMES
If my team is in the home stretch of a playoff run, it's difficult to pry me away from my TV. Right now, if I have nothing else to do, I'll sit down and watch some baseball. However, if you have plans or just want to do something else to entertain yourself for the night, it's probably a good idea to do that instead of watching a bad team struggle.


GET OFF THE COUCH
The Fox Sports Go app is my best friend. It lets me watch the Twins while I'm doing things around the house. During last night's baseball game disguised as a football game, I was able to watch it on my phone while during chores around the house. I don't need to fully focus on the game, and I cleaned out our pantry, swept the floor, and unpacked the dishwasher. I got to watch the game, and my wife doesn't hate me. It's a win-win, until I find a way to screw it up. And no, Fox Sports Go doesn't sponsor the blog...yet.


MUTE THE BROADCAST
This one is just a personal preference. If my team isn't doing well, I can't listen to local broadcasters try to spin it to a positive. It doesn't help me cope with the dumpster fire. It just gets me more upset. Plus, there's only so many clichés and canned responses I can listen to, especially if the team is bad. Having the broadcast muted just gives me more freedom to read something else while I watch my team get their teeth kicked in.


AVOID COMMENT SECTIONS
Whether it's the team's social media pages, or an article on the Star Tribune's website, don't look at the comments. It will suck your soul right out of your body. Just don't. Seriously...don't.


Those are some of the ways I can through a difficult season. So remember, just take a deep breath, and we'll get through it. There's always next year right?

Why am I doing this?

What's the point anymore? That's the question I'm asking myself a lot lately.


For my whole life, sports have been a very important part of me. I still tell myself that I remember the Twins winning the World Series in 1991, even though I was barely 3 years-old at the time. Every aspect of my life has revolved around playing, watching, or writing about sports.


Fast forward 27 years, and that most likely made-up memory of sports goodness is all I have. As a Minnesota sports fan, there have been very few highs and a lot of lows. Aside from the amazing run of the Minnesota Lynx, this state has been a championship graveyard for years.


With each passing year, and each passing failure, that burning passion of sports is slowly fading. I have a beautiful wife Sara and an amazing son Quinton who now take up most of my love and time. Don't get me wrong, I still watch sports on a regular basis. However, while I watch the Twins play the White Sox on a Tuesday night when it's beautiful outside I ask the question, what's the point anymore?


I feel like starting this blog will help me answer that question. I will be looking back at some of the heartbreaking moments as a Minnesota sports fan, as well as my thoughts about what is happening currently.


It might be therapeutic, it might be terrible. Either way, it will help pass the time until the next heartbreak.