Not crazy about the Twins ownership being out there using the Rays as an excuse to be cheap.
11 thoughts on “February 21, 2024: Skinflint”
"I think it's understandable ... when you just look at it on paper, if we just had the success we did last year why we would reduce our payroll," Pohlad said. "In today's game, you can see there are a number of different ways to win. You see that both with the Tampa Bay Rays, the Baltimore Orioles having lower payrolls and turning out very successful products on the field, but also investing in other areas of the business. That is something we are doing. But without a question, the television situation is having an impact on our business. Beyond that, we're just trying to right size our business, and that's playing into it as well."
It seems to me that the thing the current front office has done best is convince a significant portion of the team's fan base to lower its expectations.
I was really excited when I saw pictures of Buxton leading the team in sprints. All that excitement is gone. I don't expect them to be the Yankees or Dodgers but they should be in the top 40% on payroll based on their market and how close they are to winning.
I don't want to hear about the TV contract. That's like telling me you can't spend money because you are terrible at one of your main revenue streams. That's on management.
I get that the Twins are never going to be in the top 10 salary-wise but it seems to make sense, when the team is kind of close to popping off that it add a few expensive pieces. See if you can catch lightning, go on a run and maybe win a Championship. If it doesn't work out, drop back down on overall salary, retool, and get ready for another run in a couple of years. This seems like one of those years that some slightly high salaries (cough cough Snell), could pay dividends.
I'm not entirely convinced that spending this offseason was going to help them really push to the next limit. Yes, I wish Sonny Gray were still around, but I don't feel like Snell would be the answer... I feel like this year's free agent class was pretty underwhelming. I feel like they're just opening a new window on being competitive, especially with Lee and Jenkins being top-end talents. So spending for this year alone and mortgaging that future seems short-sighted.
What's frustrating me is that all accounts sound like this is a new permanent feature, not a "we're going to hold off this year so we can spend next year" type of thing. It doesn't sound like a "we know our window is in a couple years, so we want to maximize that time" decision - it sounds like a pure "we're greedy and want more money" decision.
Snell has topped 130 innings only twice in his career. He did win the Cy Young both times but with only 180 innings in each season. He averages only 5-5.5 innings per start. They're very good innings, albeit filled with walks, but it's not much. Montgomery is the more interesting one to me. Same age, pitches slightly deeper into games, and his two most recent seasons were his best. Neither are great choices.
I have an appointment to get my first shingles vaccine injection on Friday. I've been living on borrowed time on that front and zoom's recent episode scared me into action.
Inspiring stuff.
It seems to me that the thing the current front office has done best is convince a significant portion of the team's fan base to lower its expectations.
I was really excited when I saw pictures of Buxton leading the team in sprints. All that excitement is gone. I don't expect them to be the Yankees or Dodgers but they should be in the top 40% on payroll based on their market and how close they are to winning.
I don't want to hear about the TV contract. That's like telling me you can't spend money because you are terrible at one of your main revenue streams. That's on management.
I get that the Twins are never going to be in the top 10 salary-wise but it seems to make sense, when the team is kind of close to popping off that it add a few expensive pieces. See if you can catch lightning, go on a run and maybe win a Championship. If it doesn't work out, drop back down on overall salary, retool, and get ready for another run in a couple of years. This seems like one of those years that some slightly high salaries (cough cough Snell), could pay dividends.
I'm not entirely convinced that spending this offseason was going to help them really push to the next limit. Yes, I wish Sonny Gray were still around, but I don't feel like Snell would be the answer... I feel like this year's free agent class was pretty underwhelming. I feel like they're just opening a new window on being competitive, especially with Lee and Jenkins being top-end talents. So spending for this year alone and mortgaging that future seems short-sighted.
What's frustrating me is that all accounts sound like this is a new permanent feature, not a "we're going to hold off this year so we can spend next year" type of thing. It doesn't sound like a "we know our window is in a couple years, so we want to maximize that time" decision - it sounds like a pure "we're greedy and want more money" decision.
Snell has topped 130 innings only twice in his career. He did win the Cy Young both times but with only 180 innings in each season. He averages only 5-5.5 innings per start. They're very good innings, albeit filled with walks, but it's not much. Montgomery is the more interesting one to me. Same age, pitches slightly deeper into games, and his two most recent seasons were his best. Neither are great choices.
I have an appointment to get my first shingles vaccine injection on Friday. I've been living on borrowed time on that front and zoom's recent episode scared me into action.
They're not passive, so give yourself some lay-around time this weekend
YMMV, of course. I basically just had a slightly sore arm. MrsS was down for a day on the second shot.
That was my experience, the second shot wiped me out for a whole day.
Thanks for the warnings. I made sure I have no weekend plans, I'm just gonna lay low and abide.