It's been three weeks since my last mailbag, and I've spent that time setting the table for the Twins' offseason by writing about their departing free agents, state of the payroll and toughest looming decisions, biggest roster needs, and the best hitter fits and pitcher fits to target in free agency.
Now that the Brewers have completed their incredible World Series run and the offseason is here — for a month or so, at least, until the lockout halts everything — let's open up the mailbag and see what's on your minds about a 77-win Twins team with lots of work to do in whatever window they have to do it.
Note: Submitted questions have been edited for clarity and length.
Is there something Tom Pohlad could do on the non-payroll side of the Twins' organization that would show fans he's serious about winning? — Nick T.
This question gets to the heart of why, no matter how much Pohlad repeats their messaging about his desire to be aggressive and his willingness to spend more, it ultimately makes minimal impact unless/until it's matched by actions. This team has been owned by the same family for five decades. Everyone is well past words.
If anything, talking a big game — as Pohlad has done constantly since taking over in mid-December — and failing to back it up with actions would send the already low fan morale through the floor. At that point, any fans who believed would feel embarrassed and burned, again, so his words would cease to carry any weight.
With so many years of action-less words and unfulfilled promises creating such deep scar tissue, there are only two things left that a Pohlad-owned team can do to "show" fans they're serious about winning: 1. Spend money to make moves that improve the roster/organization in a way clearly aimed at winning. 2. Win.
That's it. Do the first thing, and it buys you some time to do the second thing. Do neither, and there's no need to bother with more words. No one will be listening.
Aaron Gleeman
If a stranger walked up to you on the street and asked you what is something the Twins do "well" as an organization, what would you say? — Blevan H.
I'd probably say the same thing the Twins themselves spent all season featuring in their ticket deals and various other advertisements: Target Field is a nice place to watch a baseball game, especially in the summer. On the field, it's become a lot harder to pinpoint things they excel at relative to the other 29 teams.
There was lots of talk about the small-market World Series matchup between the Brewers and Rays, and within that questions about what the Twins can change to emulate their sustained success despite low payrolls. More investment, not in the MLB roster, but in people behind the scenes who help build it, would be a start.
Lance Brozdowski of Marquee Sports Network estimates the Rays lead MLB with 50 analytics department staffers and the Brewers are tied for No. 9 with 32, while the Twins are tied for No. 16 with 24. But what makes the Brewers and Rays really effective is that their scouting departments also rank among the MLB leaders.
Baseball America estimates the Rays are No. 5 with 84 scouts and the Brewers tie for No. 10 with 78 scouts. Small-market teams with low-payroll rosters can spend heavily on old-school and new-school brain power. Meanwhile, estimates put the Twins dead last in MLB with 39 scouts after shrinking the department this year.
How do the Rays and Brewers do such a good job drafting and signing amateurs, developing their own prospects, winning trades, and finding talent on the cheap? It's by design and it requires investment. Tampa Bay has 134 analytics or scouting staffers. Milwaukee has 110. Minnesota has 63. Penny wise, pound foolish.
Given the success of Brooks Lee's midseason move to third base, could you see a similar resuscitation of Royce Lewis' career next year? If he were planted at, say, second base and left alone batting fifth, could he relax into it? — Rohn M.