The Minnesota Twins had crept to three games over .500 heading into their home series against the New York Yankees this week with yet another chance to propel themselves back toward the top of the American League Central.
And yet again, a good-but-not-great Bronx Bombers team put the pesky Midwesterners back in their place.
Three games in which the team’s offense was bad, the defense was worse and the starting pitching was putrid dropped their record to 0-7 for the year against New York.
Though team officials and apologists will point to four one-run games at the new Yankee Stadium earlier this season as evidence that the Twins are competing hard against the Yanks, the winless series makes three seasons during Ron Gardenhire’s tenure where the Twins didn’t take a single game versus New York (0-6 in 2002 and 0-7 in 2003).
Take it back a step further and the Twins are 6-19 overall against the American League East this year, the division that contains arguably the best three teams in the junior circuit. Take out a 12-6 record against the inferior National League and the Twins’ record against teams they’re actually competing against for a playoff spot is 31-37.
While the front office deserves some criticism for not attempting more aggressively to fill its obvious bullpen needs during the offseason this is still a team that added Joe Crede to its lineup. It also had five starters coming into the season with a year or more of experience. Crede has been what was expected – a solid defensive player with 12 home runs and a low batting average who has to miss games from time to time to rest his back.
But four of the five starters – Francisco Liriano, Kevin Slowey, Scott Baker and Glen Perkins – have all been disappointing more than they’ve been good. And several other players have underachieved as well. Nick Punto, re-signed to a $4 million per year multi-year contract, has struggled A) to stay healthy, B) to keep his average above .210, and even C) to contribute the consistent defense he was brought back to provide.
Alexi Casilla has been so bad that he’s been sent to the minor leagues twice. Delmon Young looks like he might be getting a sliver of a clue, but he spent the first half of the season’s first half continuing to give ammunition to those already conceding a loss in the deal that brought him here. And despite occasional glimpses of brilliance, Carlos Gomez still spends more time corkscrewing himself into the ground swinging and missing than he does running around the bases.
More disturbing is the lack of any outward anger or frustration toward a .500 start that clearly is well below expectations. The Chicago Cubs have suffered through worse injury problems than the Twins have and it has caused them to wallow around the same record as Minnesota – but at least they look to have some fire and some anger about it. Not that busting Gatorade dispensers equals heart, but it’s nice to at least see that someone cares.
Without major adjustments, this year’s Twins are going nowhere. Rumor has it they’ve been talking with Pittsburgh about second baseman Freddie Sanchez and/or two relievers, Matt Capps and John Grabow. Some real dreamers are hoping they’ll pony up enough to land Toronto ace Roy Halladay.
While I have my doubts about the team’s willingness to shell out the necessary prospects to add any of the above, even if they do it might not matter.
Yes, if I were running this team, before I would go and drop a bunch of prospects – guys who could be in line to replace some of the underachievers on this year’s big club – I’d be looking to see a sign of the competitive fire and leadership it’s going to take to get this thing turned around. Zero and seven against the Yankees and 31-37 against the AL should be acceptable to absolutely zero members of the team’s 25 man roster.
Until this team shows the ability to compete on a regular basis with the best – or even the middle-of-the-road teams in the American League – and until this team looks like it’s in it for more than just spending an enjoyable summer observing Major League Baseball from the best seats in beautiful ballparks around the U.S. and Canada, they haven’t done enough to make me feel there’s enough there to warrant an upgrade anyway.
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Don’t understand why the Yankees own Minnesota. Twins better take 2 or 3 this weekend.
This has felt like a lost season to me almost from day one. Anytime any member of the front office talks about the club, there’s always at least a mention of Target Field, which will open next year. It has felt to me, from my not-quite-distanced-but-certainly-not-in-the-loop perch, that the team (or at least the front office) has been willing to sacrifice this year to prepare for next year. They have changed their playing style from an old fashioned small ball turf team to a more “American League” power hitting offense, which is a style that will serve them much better in the band box they’re building right now. The days of the pirhanas are over. I don’t expect them to make any kind of deal at the trade deadline that will help them win this year. I don’t want to see Freddy Sanchez try to field a hot grounder on the metrodome turf. But the guy can hit and they can grow the grass long in the infield next season. If they can swing the trade and get him to sign a three year deal, I think they’ll do it. Don’t look for much in the realm of bullpen help, though. I think they are going to stand pat and hope Jesse Crain gets his head right and Pat Neshek can get his elbow right (which I personally don’t think can happen).
I have questions and doubts about Bill Smith, but I can see what he’s trying to do here. This is not to say like it much, however. I think the Twins management owes it to the fans – and the tax payers of Hennepin County – to put a high quality product on the field BOTH this year and next year. But this team has always looked to the future. Or at least it has since 1993, when the drum started beating for a new ballpark. There will be no more excuses next year, though. Smith and his team will have to perform. It’s what they’ve promised, and I hope Twins fans hold them accountable. I know that I will.
Rich, if the Pohlads hadn’t ponied up $100M, then there’d be no new stadium. The fans owe as much to the Pohlads as to anyone else for the stadium.
Joe, I think your point would be better if you cited Carl Pohlad buying the team from Calvin Griffith in 1984 when you say the fans owe much to the Pohlads.
Yes, the Pohlads put a substantial amount of money up for the stadium. BUT let’s also keep in mind that the moment they open Target Field the value of the team will go up by as much or more than the amount they invested.
The team will also be making another eight figures in revenue from the new park as well. So while you do have a point to some extent, let’s not delude ourselves into thinking this was a selfless move on their part either.
Thank you for reading.