Far from Fort Myers

 

So every three years in March I end up in Fort Myers, Florida. My uncle lives down there, we don't see him that often in Jersey for work reasons, it's easier to come down cause it's Florida and it's nice down there. It just ends up happening every 3 years for Spring Training. Always when the World Baseball Classic's on. 2017, 2023, probably next year. And Fort Myers, they have the Twins and the Red Sox down there. Always have. I remember going to the Sox's old complex on St. Patrick's Day in 2006. Packed with Sox fans. Insane. 

I've grown to anticipate seeing the Twins' facility when I'm down there, because it's a lot homier than the Boston one. You can go backfield at Fenway South but they block it off after an allotted time. Hammond Park they don't care. I watched BP last time. Tony Oliva holding court. Saw Randy Dobnak and Byron Button signing for kids. It's just cozier. More tempered type of fan. Plus, bratwurst. 

It's a good team to see in March. Cause there's no cynicism, no 'why didn't we do this last year'. Optimism reigns. In 2023, they had a full team, and one that looked competitive, even if it still felt like they were starting over a little. I think about how it's gonna feel next year. Aside from Buxton, Ryan and Lopez, what even is the future of this team? All those young guys that were supposed to inherit the team have kinda stuck in and rolled into despondency. Remember when Alex Kirilloff was supposed to be the guy? Remember when Eduoard Julien was supposed to be a fixture in that middle infield? This team has boiled down to a bunch of guys who are built well and look like great ballplayers but can't do anything. Ryan Jeffers, Trevor Larnach, Matt Wallner. What can you even say?

I think going into this year, or last year, people were calling Matt Wallner one of the best outfielders in the game, and I didn't get it. Wallner's big and strong and can run but right now he's just not hitting. Usually his OPS is around .850, right now it's .783. He's hitting .204, and while his 21 homers are a career high...what can you say he's even doing? He's an average hitter, below average infielder, he's just big. I feel like he's a front for something. Like a business that makes no money and clearly has a money laundering scheme running out the back. Larnach is like that too, he always gives the idea that he's gonna hit better than he has, and he just sits around .250 with 16 homers. How do you tell when they're succeeding if this is just what they do? At least Buxton you can see him spring into action. 

The Twins are gonna need that promising, rebuilding feel in March in Ft. Myers. Cause right now there's no promise to be found. Just a slog of a last month and then you can put it to bed. 

Coming Tomorrow [?]: I did not expect this team to be as variable at catcher over the past 3 years, but here's the newest one they've settled on. At least he can hit.