Twins

[dutchboy]

This season provided plenty of opportunity for the bandwagon jumpers. They were busy getting on & off all season.

[Gunner55]

A couple good games yday!! Eovaldi getting out of the bases loaded, nobody out jam in the 5th was huge in that game. D'backs only getting 1 run in the 7th was the difference in that game too, IMO.

[Gunner55]

  It's starting to look like the Phillies could be hard to beat this year. I'm not counting the Astros out yet but it's a big game today with Scherzer taking the mound for the Rangers.

[dutchboy]

With Wheeler and Nola and a 2-0 lead the Phillies are going to be a tough out.
I like Philly's batting order top to bottom better than Houston's.

[Gunner55]

  I saw Pfaadt pitch a couple times towards the end of the season & he looked pretty good then too. But he had some wicked movement on his breaking stuff & some real jump on his heater as well yady. Big games today.................for both series.

[Steve-o]

Looking at the way the Astros are hitting now, and looking back to how the Twins held them more or less in check in 3 of the 4 games...  I think it speaks volumes on the Twins pitching.  It would have been really fun to see how far they could have gone if they could have gotten past that series.

[KEN W]

After 40 years Dick Bremer has resigned as Twins TV broadcaster at years end. Will take a job in the Twins front office in Public Relations.

So long Dick....

[Gunner55]

Too bad , I enjoyed listening to him, 40 years is a long time doing anything though. Wonder who'll replace him?

[Steve-o]

Too bad , I enjoyed listening to him, 40 years is a long time doing anything though. Wonder who'll replace him?

Yes, I wonder too.

'Twins officials said they are currently evaluating "broadcast options, as well as a talent lineup for the 2024 season and beyond."'

I don't know how many times he might have re-told this story recently, but he was talking about how he had the first, original Homer Hankey.  Dick walked into the Twins' offices and someone from the Star Tribune was there pitching the idea.  They asked him what he thought and he replied that he didn't think it would take off.  But they gave him that first one anyway, and the rest is history.  During the playoff run he said he tied it to his car antenna (for all you young whipper-snappers out there... all cars used to have radio antennas), and one night when it was parked in the ramp, someone had come along, cut it off, and just left a little corner tied to the antenna. 

[Gunner55]

  https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2023/10/31/twins-dick-bremer-bally-sports 

[Steve-o]

https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2023/10/31/twins-dick-bremer-bally-sports 

Who will replace Bremer. A logical choice would be radio broadcaster Cory Provus, who filled in for Bremer when he had Covid in April.  Plus, Kris Atteberry has already proved capable of calling Twins games on the radio when Provus or Dan Gladden were out.

I think I like the move of Provus to the TV broadcast.  That is because, for radio, I REALLY want a guy with a distinctive voice.  Cory does a great job, but lacks that in my meaningless opinion.  Maybe Atteberry, but...  but...  I guess I'm just pining for the days of Vin Sculley or Herb Carneal.  Like the article said, the Twins want to get younger in the broad case booth and you don't to that by hiring dulcet-toned gentlemen.

The Twins have likely broadcast their last game on Bally Sports North.  [The Twins are] probably not interested in a new [contract] while the company is trying to restructure under bankruptcy protection.  Why it matters: [Bally] Sports Group was paying the team $54.8 million annually for broadcast rights.

It's not likely [the Twins] will make anywhere near that much in local TV money next year.  Minnesota had its highest payroll ever last year, at $156 million. A loss of millions could make ownership reluctant to bring in more talent this offseason.
 

[Gunner55]

 I seen this late yday. https://twinsdaily.com/news-rumors/minnesota-twins/twins-exercise-contract-options-kepler-polanco/

[Steve-o]

Here is comes...   

Minnesota Twins Set to Cut Payroll Amid Almost Certain Departure From Bankrupt Bally Sports RSN

Major League Baseball's Minnesota Twins are reducing their payroll and exploring alternative local TV options following the expiration of the team's agreement with bankrupt regional sports network operator Diamond Sports Group.

Speaking at a league-wide general managers meeting earlier this week, Twins GM Derek Falvey said he doesn't expect the team to match the all-time club high $156 million collective player payroll it carried in the recently completed 2023 MLB season.
 

[KEN W]

 

[glenn57]

Tight azz f$__&-(ers

[Steve-o]

And now sports fans...  HERE'S YOUR... MINNESOTA TWINS!!!



SO tired with all their "small market" excuses. 

I know having the top payrolls don't guarantee success, but they had something good going last year - and for the time being - they are convinced they need to hedge their bets against keeping things rolling.  G'luck with next year's season ticket sales.

 

[LPS]

Just what they need is another excuse to cheap out on the team. 

[Bobberineyes]

Can save some funds, or a lot by sending Buxton packing.

[KEN W]

They made a qualifying offer to Sonny Gray.I think he can get more elsewhere.

[Gunner55]

  One of the 1st articles I read about the DSG bankruptcy way back in August said that this was probably going to have to happen, so I'm not at all surprised. They are going lose at least $25-30 mil of the $54 mil in TV revenue they were getting, if they are lucky. So, 1 of their bigger sources of incoming $ gets cut in < 1/2 & they're supposed to increase what they spend? 

[Steve-o]

Minneapolis was supposed to build them a stadium that increased the value of their franchise by how many billion?
 
There aren't any rules in baseball that say they can't go all-in when they have something good going.

[dutchboy]

Minneapolis was supposed to build them a stadium that increased the value of their franchise by how many billion?
 
There aren't any rules in baseball that say they can't go all-in when they have something good going.

There also is no rules stating that they can't spend and buy at the trade deadline if they are in contention.

[Gunner55]

  The latest on it from the people that cover the team all the time. https://twinsdaily.com/forums/topic/65244-how-will-television-uncertainties-affect-2024-payroll/#comment-1341516

[LPS]

Isn't that interesting.

[Steve-o]

Ball guys like numbers, right?   

2023  Rank=17th, Twins Payroll=$129.7M (League Avg=$150.6)  Twins spent 13.88% BELOW league average.   
2022  Rank=20th, Twins Payroll=$110.5M (League Avg=$143.5)  Twins spent 18.17% BELOW league average.   
2021  Rank=22th, Twins Payroll=$120.2M (League Avg=$119.7)  Twins spent 0.45% above league average.   

2020=20th, 2019=18th, 2018=18th, 2017=22nd, 2016=18th, 2015=18th, 2014=24th, 2013=22nd, 2012=13th, 2011=9th, 2010=11th, 2009=24th, 2008=25th, 2007=18th, 2006=19th, 2005=20th, 2004=19th, 2003=18th
See a trend?   

Bally got exclusive rights in 2011 to broadcast games.

This year they are talking about how they'll cut payroll because they won't have all this revenue coming in.  Well it looks to me like - besides a couple of years when the Bally contract first came in - that the Twins are pretty happy slotting in at anywhere between 17th and 25th in payroll - regardless of what TV contract they have.

Again, they are hedging their bets again and playing that small market, Little Engine that Could game.   

I like this point that was made in the article, Gunner:  Twins fans were lucky to have almost off of the games broadcast and widely available on cable TV.  To my mind they got their product out there and their success grew expectations amongst a larger audience.  And now they're going to backpedal again?!!?        
 

[Gunner55]

  The #'s can be manipulated too, as this says they had $156 mil in salary last season & that was ~ $9 mil under league avg, which is more like 6%. https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/payroll/2023/

[Steve-o]

Admittedly, this source is "opening day payrolls."  I don't have any idea how accurate or factual they are.  https://www.stevetheump.com/Payrolls.htm  Your source is probably more accurate, but the relative differentials are similar.  (I can't re-do all my numbers because after a couple of clicks that site says I need a subscription.)

My point is, the Twins are content with spending just under league average.

My prediction based on what I saw there is that the Twins will drop back down to 20th-22nd again in 2024.

They have always been more serious about running the Twins like a business than building a winning team.  And there ain't no law against that.

And as long as MN fans tolerate that and keep coming to the games, there is no incentive for the front office do do anything different.  Coincidentally, they were 19th in the league in attendance last year with 24,371 per game.  I wonder how the Twins would respond if that number dropped down to 15,000 per game - cut payroll some more? 

[dutchboy]

Lets see..........you can run a middle of the road pay-roll and make the play-offs. Once in the play-offs the only team with a smaller pay-roll will be Tampa Bay. The balance of the play-offs most years will consist on either New York, Boston, Toronto in the East. Houston, Texas and the Angles in the West. On any given year most of those teams pay-roll will eclipse $200 million.

Where does it make economic sense to go crazy spending? If Buxton was healthy that middle of the pack pay-roll get them past Houston and playing for the American League championship.

Pohlads first and foremost are bankers, secondly they are businessmen, lastly they know a fool and his money are soon parted.

If you want to be a fan of a idiot that spends hop onto the Angels and Padres bandwagon.

[Steve-o]

Yes, you're right.  If they spent like the Yankees or Angels and lose, I'd be more pissed.

All'st I'm saying is I'm sick of this team finding reasons not to spend money. 

When a sports franchise has a window open to make a push to improve and contend for a championship, what's wrong with going "all in" once in a while. 

If they cut payroll and lose the in the World Series next year, God bless 'em.  If they finish 2nd or 3rd in a bad division, they will get what they deserve.

I think this team should make deals that make sense, but when the first words out of their mouths are, "We can't afford to keep spending like this," it leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

[dutchboy]

So they want to make a $30 million dollar payroll cut over what they had this year. How hard is that? Farmer is $6 million. Polanco and Kepler are $10 million each, send one moving along for prospects and maybe a bench player. Gray will turn down his $20 million offer and go to free agency. Theres $36 million and you haven't weakened the roster all that much. Which is true if you expect Grays innings to be taken by Paddock.

It's not how much you spend but how you spend it.