Shoe or swordfish?
A fisherman went out for a day of fishing in the ocean. After a few minutes he felt a nibble on his line. Now, this ocean was renowned for the countless abandoned shoes and tires resting at the bottom, but that didn’t stop the fisherman. Even though there was very good chance of getting stuck with a shoe, the hope of a swordfish propelled him on.
But what does his line hold? He doesn’t know, can’t know, but wouldn’t dare let go.
That is how the Minnesota Twins are looking right now. Nobody knows what 2009 will bring, but the hope of a World Series appearance forces them, and us a fans, on.
Obviously, a huge determining factor of whether the Twins get a shoe or a swordfish depends on what bait you use, or what team you field. If Bill Smith decides that it would be best for the organization if he didn’t sign any fresh talent, the weight at the end of our line may be in vain.
Or would it?
Would focusing on 2010 year and slating 2009 as a “rebuilding year” really hurt the franchise? As Rodney King said, “can’t we all just get along?” Why can’t those two ends of the spectrum collide and form a new philosophy? A new baseball mindset where all is not won or lost in one year, but long periods of time are not set aside for internal growth.
Sure, the Minnesota minor league system holds some promising young talent, but the Twins can win now without them. At least, that is the way fans should think.
There are pitfalls to that motivation, though. When you hope for a swordfish you can only be disappointed with lesser results. If you go into the season knowing that there is a shoe at the end of your line, you have to be grateful, whatever the results.
That raises the official question for 2009: Do the Twins focus on 2009 or 2010? Long-term or short-term?
Discuss what you would prefer in the comment section. Do you want the Twins to focus on 2010 and call this upcoming year a “rebuilding mode”? Or, would you prefer the Twins to go all-out this year and sign whatever and whoever it takes to bring a championship in 2009?
The do-or-die, or the wait-until-next-year? A compromise, maybe? Please discuss this, and whether you think the Twins will pull up another swordfish in 2009, or be stuck with a shoe.
October 30th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Going all out for 2009 is not the Twins way nor do I think it should be. This team has several holes to plug in order to be a championship team. Going all out would require committing large long term contracts to older free agents or raping the farm system to trade for top notch players. Either of these options is not worth the gamble. There is no guarantee that after making these big moves that you win the championship (Detroit Tigers 2008).
I would however like to see the Twins address the infield with a big move. I don’t think the Twins have the talent in the orginization to adequately fill three infield spots long term. None of Valencia, Hughes or Plouffe are sure fire above average major league infielders and I think the jury is still out on Casilla. The Twins should gamble on one big trade or free agent signing even if they are only looking to 2010.
October 30th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
I would agree that going all in 2009 is not a good idea. The team is still very young and the team has a shot to being very good in 2010 and beyond. The Twins do need to look at getting some infield help this offseason and at least one spot being a long term solution. Either 3B, SS, or 2B needs to be filled with a young player with great upside and that can be with the team for at least five years. Then maybe a signing a stop gap for one or two years for one of the other spots. That way we will know if Casilla, Hughes, Valencia, Plouffe, and Tolleson could be the future for the Twins and give some of them time to further develop in the minors.
So, leave Casilla at 2B unless the Twins can get a young longterm 2B to fill that spot and move Casilla to SS. Otherwise get a young SS or 3B and fill the other spot with a stop gap player for one or two years and then hopefully someone from the minors will develop to take over that spot in the future.
This would set the team up to be even more competive next year and also build for the future.
October 30th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
The things that the Twins need are so few (3B, SS, SP) that the question about 2009 or 2010 should be answered by: both. They have about $25-$30 million to spend this off-season. They should do it wisely and not with half-baked solutions like the past few years. There is enough OF and pitching depth in the minors that makes a lot of prospects potentially expandable.
On the Tigers’ note above: the Tigers had no plan last winter. They piled up a team of aging slow 1B/LF/DH type of players and ignore their pitching and defense. That is no way to win. Fortunately, the Twins have fewer holes than the Tigers did last winter.
October 31st, 2008 at 1:18 am
Thanks for the feedback, guys. The general consensus is that the Twins should fill a few holes this offseason in preparation for 2010. I agree, but like I said in the article, “He doesn’t know, can’t know, but wouldn’t dare let go.” We don’t know what lies ahead, but like this past year, a surprisingly competitive season may await us…albeit it doesn’t look that way right now.
May 24th, 2009 at 11:07 am
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