Just a month ago, being a Minnesota Twins fan felt promising. The team was poised for a postseason run, holding a significant lead in the American League Wild Card standings. Although not flawless, the Twins demonstrated enough potential to compete in a relatively open American League, raising hopes for their first appearance in the American League Championship Series since 2002. However, the mood shifted dramatically on Friday night, as a disheartening 7-2 defeat to the Baltimore Orioles led to the Twins’ official elimination from playoff contention, culminating in a disappointing 12-25 record over their last 37 games.
With the team’s playoff dreams dashed, fans have turned their attention elsewhere, leaving the Twins to address the aftermath. The stark question now is: how did the team go from playoff favorites to home spectators in October? Here are five factors that contributed to their downfall and some potential solutions.
For many Twins supporters, injuries have been a recurring issue, particularly with stars like Byron Buxton and Royce Lewis missing considerable playing time in recent seasons. However, the impact of Carlos Correa’s injury was particularly significant. When Correa was placed on the injured list following the All-Star break, the Twins held a record of 54-42. He had been instrumental in their strong start, boasting impressive stats of .308/.377/.520 with 13 home runs and 47 RBIs, including a stellar month of June where he hit .388/.441/.582 with five homers and 21 RBIs. Unfortunately, a resurgence of plantar fasciitis plagued Correa throughout the 2023 season, ultimately derailing the team’s momentum. Though the Twins managed to stay competitive initially, Correa’s prolonged absence through September severely compromised their defense.
Some might wonder if Correa could have returned sooner. After reflecting on the season, he took full responsibility for the team’s struggles. Following the loss to the Orioles, he stated, “I’ll have to sit at home for a couple of days and just go through everything that happened in the year. If you have anyone to blame, blame me for going down for two months and not being part of the team. I think that’s one of the main reasons.”
The managerial decisions of Rocco Baldelli have also come under scrutiny, though it’s often difficult to assess his individual responsibility, as many of his choices may align with the front office’s strategies. Still, some of Baldelli’s moves seemed perplexing during the team’s slump. A notable incident occurred on August 18, when he allowed Jorge Alcala to squander a four-run lead, resulting in a 5-4 loss to the Texas Rangers. Shortly after, Baldelli removed Bailey Ober after six innings and took out Griffin Jax after just ten pitches, leading to Steven Okert, who subsequently gave up four runs in a 7-5 defeat to the San Diego Padres. This pattern continued, with Twins Daily’s Andrew Luedke highlighting that the Twins had lost eight games with an 80% win probability or greater since mid-August.
As the Twins reflect on this season’s collapse, the focus will undoubtedly be on how to rebound and rebuild for a more successful future.
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