After a long, cold winter, there are few days that Minnesota Twins fans look forward to more than Opening Day. It’s a sign that they’ve made it through the dark days of the calendar, and soon, they’ll be sitting at the cabin, cracking a few beverages and hanging out with friends with the Twins on the radio.
It’s hard not to feel the dopamine rush when the sun hits your face on a 50-degree day. Or that first whiff of the Kramarczuk’s brats wafting through the air. The first sip of an $18 beer feels like it’s going straight to your veins, and that feeling of optimism is there no matter how poorly the last season ended.
It makes Target Field the happiest place in the world. But heading into this season, it’s hard to find those vibes.
The Twins could win the AL Central and make a prolonged playoff run. But on the week the season begins, the apathy that dominated the final weeks of last season has bled into the new year, leaving Twins fans a sense of dread as the year begins.
So how did we get here?
The Twins ended last year with one of the biggest collapses in franchise history. Holding a double-digit lead in the Wild Card standings in August, the Twins belly-flopped the landing and let the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers pass them on their way to the postseason. “Sell the Team” became a more popular rallying cry than “Let’s go, Twins,” and Minnesota limped their way into the offseason.
It gave the Twins a chance to reflect on their shortcomings, and they got off to a good start. Switching to a direct-to-consumer TV model allowed non-cable subscribers to watch their games for the first time in five years. The Pohlad family announced they were selling the team. Payroll was still a concern one year after slashing $30 million the previous winter, but it felt like a case of eating your vegetables for a brighter, healthier future.
That seemed to arrive when Justin Ishbia revealed his interest in buying the Twins. The brother of free-spending Mat Ishbia, who owns the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, fans envisioned a day when the team could spend on things like an outfield bat or a decent bullpen arm. A report surfaced that the Twins could have a new owner by Opening Day, and a “robust market” was headlined by former legends who could become minority owners.
The stage was set for Opening Day to be a celebration. Imagine Ishbia throwing out the first pitch, flanked by minority owners Joe Mauer, Torii Hunter, and your favorite Twins legend. Maybe they’d go as far as Baltimore Orioles owner Mike Arougheti, who celebrated his minority stake in a $1.6 billion purchase of the team by heading down to the concourse and serving free beer to fans.
But Twins fans know what happened. Ishbia had a minority stake in the Chicago White Sox and used the Twins as leverage to increase his stake on the South Side. His change of heart put Minnesota’s sale in jeopardy.
A new Twins owner could appear any day. Still, it doesn’t erase the fear of the Pohlad family saying, We tried, and pulling the team off the market. The ownership issue was a shot in the gut for the fan base, but it’s not the only thing weighing fans down.
The management structure was a hot topic toward the end of the season. Manager Rocco Baldelli and president of baseball operations Derek Falvey were on the hot seat after the collapse. Turns out, both were sitting comfortably. Baldelli returned as manager, and they promoted Falvey, giving him the title of president of business operations in place of the retiring Dave St. Peter.
These moves complimented another quiet winter where the Twins did almost nothing to improve the team. Chris Paddack and Christian Vázquez were on the trade market when the season ended. However, they wound up returning when teams wouldn’t give up anything significant for them. A beacon of hope appeared when Dylan Cease was connected to the Twins, but it turned out to be a mirage for a thirsty fan base.
The Twins expanded their payroll by bringing in left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe and outfielder Harrison Bader. However, they would be the most significant additions of the offseason. We could also throw Mickey Gasper and Diego Cartaya as trade acquisitions, but they felt like getting a dollar in a birthday card from your grandma.
Minnesota could at least cling to its health for everything that went wrong. Then Royce Lewis and Brock Stewart injured their hamstrings. Brooks Lee hurt his back. They took Gasper out when he suffered a laceration on Sunday. The Athletic’s Aaron Gleeman noted that 18% of the Twins 40-man roster has suffered an injury in Spring Training.
But here’s the worst part. Remember that team you just wanted to go away last September? The Twins ran it back. Managers, front office personnel, players. They’re all here.
Maybe you can find some solace in the dismissal of hitting coach David Popkins. But Twins fans have seen how this movie ends, and it usually involves screaming four-letter words. (At least this year, they can do it on their televisions and streaming devices.)
It’s given Opening Day the lackluster feel that was palpable during that final series last September. Maybe the Twins can turn it around and find a new owner that will be a shot of energy to a fan base that needs it. But until something changes, nothing will change, leaving that annual dose of optimism buried somewhere in a snowbank.