| 22 May 2011
I hate to be that guy, but the Twins are an awful team. My lack of optimism is justified.
Injuries, bad luck, and ineptitude have a death-grip on the team, and reaching the postseason already seems like too tough a task. Minnesota figures to be full-fledged sellers at the trade deadline, and I'm already looking at prospects for the 2012 amateur draft.
Being a Twins fan hasn't been easy this year. Being a Twins in the deserts of Arizona has been especially rough this weekend.
Thanks to some of God's perfect timing, this recent Minnesota/Arizona series coincided perfectly with my graduation in Phoenix and a quick Grand Canyon trip with the cousins. Unfortunately, the Twins decided to give me three consecutive 'heartbreaker' losses.
Because I'm too lazy to craft a few effective transitions and sound semi-intelligent, here are some quick thoughts via the always-popular bullet points. I posted some pictures below the jump. Enjoy!
- On Friday, Gardenhire set the tone for the weekend by intentionally-walking Willie Bloomquist to load the bases for Ryan Roberts. (Howard Sinker likened the move to intentionally-walking Nick Punto.) I still haven't heard an acceptable explanation for that decision, and it only goes to further my theory that managers can only ever make a negative impact on the game. At least from the first inning until the last, the best manager is one who stays out of the headlines.
- The Twins did manage to get the bases loaded with one out for Jason Kubel and Justin Morneau, but they both failed to put the ball in play with any authority. Story of the season.
- Both Baker and Liriano dealt with some high pitch counts in the early innings. Either the Diamondbacks are way more patient than they were last year (nope), or the Twins are pitching poorly and inefficiently. I suspect the latter.
- Minnesota's bullpen was miserable this entire series, as well. If they weren't complaining of obscure probably minor aches and pains, they were being lit-up for multiple-run innings. Now, I'm not trying to sound excessively cynical; Glen Perkins may really have an "injured oblique," Kevin Slowey may really be suffering from a "muscle tear near his stomach," and Jose Mijares may really be unavailable because of a "strained elbow," but it also smells like a convenient excuse.
- In some paradoxical form of schadenfreude, I'm actually looking forward to the trade deadline this year. I've never intimately followed a team as they hold a fire-sale, and it will be interesting to see how many players Bill Smith is able to move. He'll certainly be shopping just about everyone: Joe Nathan is on the block, Michael Cuddyer barely escapes 10/5 no-trade rights and will hopefully be among the first moved, and I'm sure Smith will listen to offers for Francisco Liriano and even Justin Morneau. A heap of talented, young prospects are likely headed to Minnesota.
- I was able to make it to Chase Field for the Saturday and Sunday games. Both were great experiences, but were painful to sit through. I took some pictures, so click below to see a random assortment.
Click below to read more...
Glen Perkins on Saturday night, a few hours before his "oblique injury."
Kevin Slowey on Saturday night. Before, or after his "tear near stomach?"
Scott Baker on Saturday night before the game. I don't understand how elbows bend like that.
Scott Baker on third base, after hitting a double. Don't you love baseball?
Francisco Liriano warming up before Sunday's game. Could he be traded within the month?
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