Now what for the Minnesota Twins?
The embarrassing 2011 season is only weeks away from ending but how the offseason goes will tell the more passionate and savvy fans a lot about this organization’s future.
Ownership and management could take a “cosmetic” approach in the months ahead. Make a few changes and rationalize 2011 as a tough luck season, mostly caused by an unusually high number of injuries. But rather than take the victim approach, the decision makers at Target Field are advised to audit the entire organization and everyone in it.
Best business practices call for nothing less. The process should include fact finding and opinion from not only the ownership and top management, but also the advice of consultants who can look more objectively at the organization and its people.
The Twins were 94-68 last season and have won six of the last nine Central Division titles, but even those ball clubs frustrated themselves and fans with their dismal playoff records. The Twins weren’t built to play with baseball’s best teams, and this year’s club couldn’t compete very well against past Minnesota championship teams.
The 2011 Twins are stumbling to the season’s finish line. The club has a 6-19 record in August and lost 15 of its last 18 home games. Minnesota is 10-28 against the powerful East Division, the American League’s best grouping of teams. The Twins have lost five straight series at home.
It’s time to look at everything and everybody involved with what the Twins do during the season, the offseason and spring training. The scrutiny certainly needs to start with general manager Billy Smith and the organization’s other talent evaluators, but the organizational analysis needs to go beyond that and try to answer questions about coaching, conditioning and best use of player payroll.
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