I know, you have probably heard it before on numerous websites, blogs, etc. It may seem like beating a dead horse, but if the Twins are going to continue with the same recipe that has landed them in 3rd place and given them their current 53-54 record, then it needs to be discussed.
What has to happen for the Twins and their 'leader' Bill Smith to make a change in their bullpen? Are they actually still fooled by the early success that guys like R.A. Dickey and Bobby Keppel had in their respective seasons?
Both Dickey and Keppel had excellent months of June - they posted ERA's of 0.66 and 0.00 respectively ignoring the fact that Keppel threw just 6.1 innings in June. However, since their 'honeymoon' with the Twins, both Dickey and Keppel have been awful; absolutely awful.
In July, Dickey and Keppel posted ERA's of 7.94 and 6.75 respectively and have followed that up by posting ERA's of 8.10 and 7.36 respectively during the early portion of August. Sometimes when you dig beyond the ERA statistic, you find that a pitcher has been on the receiving end of some poor luck. However, don't even both digging into Dickey and Keppel - because the ERA tells you everything you need to know.
Just unbelievable. Again, how are these guys holding their jobs? If you were that bad at your daily job, would you still hold your position? I know there are other factors involved when it comes to professional sports, but that is no excuse.
If not for dominant seasons from Joe Nathan and Matt Guerrier along with a very good season from Jose Mijares, the numbers regarding the Twins bullpen would look much, much worse. However, for some reason both Dickey and Keppel continue to hold their jobs in the Twins bullpen - stronger than one would expect actually.
Get this - in a 4-1 ballgame in which the Twins trailed the Indians last night, Manager Ron Gardenhire opted to bring in Dickey. Why? Well, he was not going to use someone like Mijares or Guerrier that early in the game and the Twins really have no other options beyond those guys. Don't you view that as an issue?
I do - but I guess Bill Smith, Gardenhire, and rest of the decision makers do not.
I asked this on my Twitter last night, but would Anthony Slama (currently at AA) and Rob Delaney (currently at AAA) really be ANY worse than what Dickey and Keppel are giving the Twins? I mean, honestly? Could they not post the same terrible BB rates? Or K rates? Or current lack of success?
Even if those two were to struggle as often as Dickey and Keppel, which I would not see happening, would you not rather go to war with the guys who are going to be here beyond this year? Rather than two guys that should find themselves no where near the mound on what is considered a postseason 'contender?'
If you were to ask the Twins why Slama and Delaney continue to sit in the minors, they would most likely feed you the same Twins bullshit about them needing to work on their leadership, their makeup, or that they don't provide enough 'veteran presence.'
Well, that is what is wrong with this organization. That is what has been wrong with this organization, and that is the main thought process and mentality that has landed the Twins in their current spot of 3rd place behind both the Tigers and White Sox.
It is just unfortunate that that mentality is not going to change quick enough for it to have an affect on this baseball team that seemingly has a 'chance.' It is just too bad the front office has failed to give this team that 'chance.'
As for Francisco Liriano - ugh. Don't get me started.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Twins: 10, Indians: 1
What more can I say?
Scott Baker pitched well, the offense hit the ball (Go Go-Go), and Jesse Crain pitched a scoreless inning.
Let's not get ahead of ourselves too much thought.
Francisco Liriano versus Aaron Laffey tonight.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Game 1: Twins @ Indians
Well, the Twins will look to rebound from a difficult weekend home series versus the Los Angeles Angels as they hit the road to face a revamped Cleveland Indians team that is less than a week removed from dealing two of their most recognizable players - Cliff Lee and Victor Martinez.
After the Tigers 6-5 victory last night over Baltimore, the Twins now sit 3.5 games out of first place. That is certainly not an insurmountable, but the Twins are going to have to fix a number of things in order for them to overcome such a deficit. On August 4th last season, the Twins were in first place ahead of the Chicago White Sox by 1/2 game - so they are in a much different scenario.
Rather than looking down at one reasonable threat, the Twins are currently looking up at two teams - the Tigers and White Sox.
As Dick Bremer said during Sunday's telecast - this week should be the tell-all as to whether the Twins will be contending for the AL Central in late September or not. They begin with a three game series with the Indians tonight before traveling to the Detroit for what should be a critical series for both teams.
Following two terrible starts from Anthony Swarzak and Glen Perkins and a disappointing end to Nick Blackburn's start on Friday, the Twins turn to Scott Baker (8-7, 4.86 ERA, 4.12 xFIP) who has been their best starter over the past few weeks. It is no secret that Baker must pitch well for the Twins tonight - for the sake of a struggling rotation and tired, less than consistent Twins bullpen.
Even after trading away Martinez and Ryan Garko, the Indians as a team are still hitting .318/.389/.589 versus Baker in his career - which is helped immensely by Travis Hafner, Grady Sizemore, and Jhonny Peralta who have killed Baker in his career.
As for the offense? Well, they will be facing left hander David Huff (5-5, 6.39 ERA, 5.20 xFIP) who has had an inconsistent major league rookie campaign. However, that should mean nothing to the Twins who have had their struggles with pitchers who, on paper, you would think they would be able to handle. You just never know with this game and the Twins offense, despite some impressive offensive numbers, have been known to display uninspiring and frustrating at-bats at times.
This team needs a jolt - a reason to be excited again. It is unfortunate that the Twins played poor baseball after the acquisition of Orlando Cabrera but even he cannot help the struggling pitching staff. Maybe Scott Baker will provide that jolt? After all, he is the 'veteran' of the staff. Someone needs to step up - anyone. It is not as if there is a 2006 version of Francisco Liriano waiting in the wings.
Who knows? Maybe it will end up being Baker. That is what makes this game so great.
After the Tigers 6-5 victory last night over Baltimore, the Twins now sit 3.5 games out of first place. That is certainly not an insurmountable, but the Twins are going to have to fix a number of things in order for them to overcome such a deficit. On August 4th last season, the Twins were in first place ahead of the Chicago White Sox by 1/2 game - so they are in a much different scenario.
Rather than looking down at one reasonable threat, the Twins are currently looking up at two teams - the Tigers and White Sox.
As Dick Bremer said during Sunday's telecast - this week should be the tell-all as to whether the Twins will be contending for the AL Central in late September or not. They begin with a three game series with the Indians tonight before traveling to the Detroit for what should be a critical series for both teams.
Following two terrible starts from Anthony Swarzak and Glen Perkins and a disappointing end to Nick Blackburn's start on Friday, the Twins turn to Scott Baker (8-7, 4.86 ERA, 4.12 xFIP) who has been their best starter over the past few weeks. It is no secret that Baker must pitch well for the Twins tonight - for the sake of a struggling rotation and tired, less than consistent Twins bullpen.
Even after trading away Martinez and Ryan Garko, the Indians as a team are still hitting .318/.389/.589 versus Baker in his career - which is helped immensely by Travis Hafner, Grady Sizemore, and Jhonny Peralta who have killed Baker in his career.
As for the offense? Well, they will be facing left hander David Huff (5-5, 6.39 ERA, 5.20 xFIP) who has had an inconsistent major league rookie campaign. However, that should mean nothing to the Twins who have had their struggles with pitchers who, on paper, you would think they would be able to handle. You just never know with this game and the Twins offense, despite some impressive offensive numbers, have been known to display uninspiring and frustrating at-bats at times.
This team needs a jolt - a reason to be excited again. It is unfortunate that the Twins played poor baseball after the acquisition of Orlando Cabrera but even he cannot help the struggling pitching staff. Maybe Scott Baker will provide that jolt? After all, he is the 'veteran' of the staff. Someone needs to step up - anyone. It is not as if there is a 2006 version of Francisco Liriano waiting in the wings.
Who knows? Maybe it will end up being Baker. That is what makes this game so great.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Go Orioles!
Yep, that is right. Clete Thomas with a walk off home run for the Tigers off of Danys Baez.
Where is the Clete Thomas-esque victory for the Twins this season?
These ain't the Orioles that your daddy used to root for but they could do the Twins a favor by taking down the Tigers tonight.
The two teams combined for 8 runs on 9 hits in the first inning which comes as a surprise with the Tigers sending Justin Verlander to the mound - with the Orioles taking a 5 to 3 lead after one.
Currently, the O's lead the Tigers 5-3 after three.
I know, it is sad that the Twins have to currently rely on what others teams in the division do...but it is really all they have to go by right now.
Off-day discussion
There seems to be some discussion that the Twins may attempt to make a move through the waiver wire before the end of the month.
As Joe Christensen from the Star Tribune reported, it does not have to be a sexy addition but rather someone that adds experience and consistency to a Twins pitching staff that has taken a turn for the worse since the All-Star break - posting a 5.98 ERA in 137 innings pitched. Of course the weekend thrashing that the Twins staff took from the Los Angeles Angels will not help, but they have gotten next to nothing from Glen Perkins, Nick Blackburn, R.A. Dickey, and Bobby Keppel during that time period.
Waiver wire deals do happen - albeit the likelihood of finding a number of impact deals is not good. There was the Doyle Alexander for John Smoltz deal that took place back in 1987 (a great year for the Twins) that vaulted the Tigers, who got Alexander, to the top of the AL East after Alexander went 9-0 in 11 starts - and we all know what type of career Smoltz has had.
So it could work...
So who could be available? Well, don't expect the Twins to land Roy Halladay. That is not an option and was never an option despite there being reports that the Twins put a call in to the Blue Jays about Halladay - only to be turned away because they were not a team on Halladay's list.
Gee, go figure.
So who is a legitimate, realistic option? There are a few - names like Doug Davis (3.73 ERA, 4.51 xFIP), Jon Garland (4.42 ERA, 5.02 xFIP), and Kevin Correia (4.75 ERA, 4.27 xFIP) have been dropped as arms that Twins may be interested in. But again, the Twins were said to be interested in the likes of Michael Wuertz, Heath Bell, and Jon Rauch as the July 31st trade deadline approached only to watch that 'interest' go by the wayside.
Again, no one expects the Twins to land a top of the line starter to anchor their rotation for the remainder of the season. However, it is clear that the Twins need help in the rotation and fast. These last three games could have been just a hiccup for the Twins staff as they were very good versus the White Sox during the three-game sweep earlier this past week. Baseball is weird that way.
However, the Twins are headed down a rough and bumpy path. They have a chance; an opportunity to win the AL Central. These opportunities do not present themselves very often, but when they do...you expect the people in charge (ahem, Bill Smith) to do everything in their power to let that opportunity become a reality.
The ball is in your court Bill Smith. Take a shot, you may just end up making a deal that allows us all to look back at and say "that won the 2009 Minnesota Twins the AL Central." Just ask fans of the Detroit Tigers.
As Joe Christensen from the Star Tribune reported, it does not have to be a sexy addition but rather someone that adds experience and consistency to a Twins pitching staff that has taken a turn for the worse since the All-Star break - posting a 5.98 ERA in 137 innings pitched. Of course the weekend thrashing that the Twins staff took from the Los Angeles Angels will not help, but they have gotten next to nothing from Glen Perkins, Nick Blackburn, R.A. Dickey, and Bobby Keppel during that time period.
Waiver wire deals do happen - albeit the likelihood of finding a number of impact deals is not good. There was the Doyle Alexander for John Smoltz deal that took place back in 1987 (a great year for the Twins) that vaulted the Tigers, who got Alexander, to the top of the AL East after Alexander went 9-0 in 11 starts - and we all know what type of career Smoltz has had.
So it could work...
So who could be available? Well, don't expect the Twins to land Roy Halladay. That is not an option and was never an option despite there being reports that the Twins put a call in to the Blue Jays about Halladay - only to be turned away because they were not a team on Halladay's list.
Gee, go figure.
So who is a legitimate, realistic option? There are a few - names like Doug Davis (3.73 ERA, 4.51 xFIP), Jon Garland (4.42 ERA, 5.02 xFIP), and Kevin Correia (4.75 ERA, 4.27 xFIP) have been dropped as arms that Twins may be interested in. But again, the Twins were said to be interested in the likes of Michael Wuertz, Heath Bell, and Jon Rauch as the July 31st trade deadline approached only to watch that 'interest' go by the wayside.
Again, no one expects the Twins to land a top of the line starter to anchor their rotation for the remainder of the season. However, it is clear that the Twins need help in the rotation and fast. These last three games could have been just a hiccup for the Twins staff as they were very good versus the White Sox during the three-game sweep earlier this past week. Baseball is weird that way.
However, the Twins are headed down a rough and bumpy path. They have a chance; an opportunity to win the AL Central. These opportunities do not present themselves very often, but when they do...you expect the people in charge (ahem, Bill Smith) to do everything in their power to let that opportunity become a reality.
The ball is in your court Bill Smith. Take a shot, you may just end up making a deal that allows us all to look back at and say "that won the 2009 Minnesota Twins the AL Central." Just ask fans of the Detroit Tigers.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
An open letter to Bill Smith
I write this on behalf of a number of Minnesota Twins fans.
Bill Smith, you are the main reason as to why the Minnesota Twins are currently 52-53 and in third place in the worst division in Major League Baseball.
Forget the career years that the Twins are receiving from Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Jason Kubel, and Joe Nathan. Those overwhelming statistical seasons, unfortunately, are being overshadowed by the mishaps made by you and your front office during the off-season as well as the mistakes you guys have continued to make during the 2009 season.
What GM in any kind of mind set gives Nick Punto, one of the worst players in all of baseball, a 2 year, $8.5 million contract? Because the manager begs you for one? Give me a break. It is your job to make that decision, not the managers. If he is threatening to walk away or protest based on the fact that you do not think signing a 31-year old (fu)tility player is in the best interest of the team, then you respond with a 'too bad.' It is not that difficult to see that this was a bad, bad move - especially for a franchise not known for spending money on players that would actually deserve such a contract.
Or what about second base? Did you and Ron Gardenhire really not view second base as an 'issue' after watching Alexi Casilla hit .243/.305/.303 in the second half of the 2008 season? You had to have known, along with everyone else that had watched this baseball team, that the middle infield would be an issue. However, rather than taking the route towards helping this baseball team, you effectively hurt it more than help by allowing the manager (who loves his no hit, scrappy style infielders) to hand starting spots to Punto and Casilla.
And how about the bullpen? Even when you do not consider the injuries to Boof Bonser and Pat Neshek, the Twins bullpen was going to be an issue. Behind Nathan and Jose Mijares who had a solid 2008 season despite some underlying issues that had him in AAA earlier this season, the bullpen was a huge question mark. This was not going to be like 2002 when the Twins could turn to nearly anyone in the bullpen and feel confident doing so. Instead, you had guys like R.A. Dickey, Brian Duensing, Bobby Keppel, Jason Jones, and others fighting for spots in the Twins bullpen. Really? Jason Jones? The same Jason Jones who currently holds a 6.15 ERA in AAA? Nice work, Bill.
Your impact move to address the bullpen was signing Luis Ayala - who was coming off a 2008 season in which he posted a 5.71 ERA between the Nationals and Mets. Again, could you not see the inevitable coming? And when the trade deadline came and passed, you were 'battling your tail off' on the phones during the coming weeks and days leading up to the trade deadline only to watch it come and go; with no move being made to address arguably the biggest need for this baseball team.
The trade for Orlando Cabrera may work out from an offensive standpoint, but Cabrera is not going to help this pitching staff. This staff needed help and it still needs help. Cabrera's defense is arguably going to affect the staff in a negative manner more so than a positive manner, but that argument is for a different time. There were names such as Michael Wuertz, Jon Rauch, and Heath Bell linked to the Twins around the trade deadline...but as you called it yourself, those teams wanted to turn a Larry Anderson into a Jeff Bagwell. You, much like your protege Terry Ryan, just could not part with your precious, untouchable prospects...and the Twins and someone like Matt Guerrier, are going to feel the effects of it.
When Wilson Ramos turns into nothing more than Mike Rivera, then what are you going to think? You had the opportunity, regardless of what teams wanted. I don't know what teams were asking for someone like Wuertz or Bell. No one will know beyond the people that were taking part in the negotiating...but what we do know is that something COULD have gotten done if you would have opted to do so. The Twins, regardless of what people think, have the pieces in their system to get something done.
Speaking of in their system, why is Anthony Slama still in AA? Is it his .204 BAA? His 2.63 ERA? Or his 12.62 K/9? Don't give us the bullshit excuse that he still needs to work on his 'makeup' or 'leadership' qualities. The guy has thrown a major league amount of innings in AA without even sniffing Rochester. You moved his bullpen sidekick Robert Delaney who looks to have figured it out after a rough start in AAA? Why has Slama, at 25 years old and a potential option to help the Twins bullpen, not been moved more aggressively? He's cheap, and he would not cost the Twins an 'untouchable.'
Oh, I know...they must still be hoping for a postseason berth at New Britain and they could not afford to lose their closer.
Or what a starting pitcher? Could you not have gone out an gotten Kevin Correia from the Padres or Jon Garland from the D-Backs? Guess not.
You are lucky Bill Smith; lucky that the players who wanted you and your staff to make a move have been suckered in to thinking that Cabrera is that 'impact' move that could put this team over the top and into the postseason. Forget the beat down that the Angels just provided 40,000+ fans over the last two games. It was just one of those series, right? Wrong. It has been happening all too often for the Twins since the All-Star break. But don't worry, there is also Philip Humber or Reid Santos waiting in the wings to step in, right?
The blame game has long passed the likes of Delmon Young vs. Carlos Gomez. It has moved onto not what you, Bill Smith, have done...but what you have not done. I know there are still opportunities left to the waiver wire deadline, but do we really expect the Twins to make a splash? Their big move a season ago to address the bullpen was bringing back Eddie Guardado who proved to be about as effective as a wet napkin. One can just not afford to put trust into Bill Smith and his front office cronies making a move that will ultimately help this baseball team.
If it were up to the many disgruntled and frustrated Twins fans, you would have never became the general manager of this baseball team. But because the Twins have a 'Twins way' of doing things, you were given such a position...a position off the field that is going to ultimately cost the Twins a chance at winning a very winnable division as we also watch a .355/.426/.592 season go by the wayside.
Bill Smith, you are the main reason as to why the Minnesota Twins are currently 52-53 and in third place in the worst division in Major League Baseball.
Forget the career years that the Twins are receiving from Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Jason Kubel, and Joe Nathan. Those overwhelming statistical seasons, unfortunately, are being overshadowed by the mishaps made by you and your front office during the off-season as well as the mistakes you guys have continued to make during the 2009 season.
What GM in any kind of mind set gives Nick Punto, one of the worst players in all of baseball, a 2 year, $8.5 million contract? Because the manager begs you for one? Give me a break. It is your job to make that decision, not the managers. If he is threatening to walk away or protest based on the fact that you do not think signing a 31-year old (fu)tility player is in the best interest of the team, then you respond with a 'too bad.' It is not that difficult to see that this was a bad, bad move - especially for a franchise not known for spending money on players that would actually deserve such a contract.
Or what about second base? Did you and Ron Gardenhire really not view second base as an 'issue' after watching Alexi Casilla hit .243/.305/.303 in the second half of the 2008 season? You had to have known, along with everyone else that had watched this baseball team, that the middle infield would be an issue. However, rather than taking the route towards helping this baseball team, you effectively hurt it more than help by allowing the manager (who loves his no hit, scrappy style infielders) to hand starting spots to Punto and Casilla.
And how about the bullpen? Even when you do not consider the injuries to Boof Bonser and Pat Neshek, the Twins bullpen was going to be an issue. Behind Nathan and Jose Mijares who had a solid 2008 season despite some underlying issues that had him in AAA earlier this season, the bullpen was a huge question mark. This was not going to be like 2002 when the Twins could turn to nearly anyone in the bullpen and feel confident doing so. Instead, you had guys like R.A. Dickey, Brian Duensing, Bobby Keppel, Jason Jones, and others fighting for spots in the Twins bullpen. Really? Jason Jones? The same Jason Jones who currently holds a 6.15 ERA in AAA? Nice work, Bill.
Your impact move to address the bullpen was signing Luis Ayala - who was coming off a 2008 season in which he posted a 5.71 ERA between the Nationals and Mets. Again, could you not see the inevitable coming? And when the trade deadline came and passed, you were 'battling your tail off' on the phones during the coming weeks and days leading up to the trade deadline only to watch it come and go; with no move being made to address arguably the biggest need for this baseball team.
The trade for Orlando Cabrera may work out from an offensive standpoint, but Cabrera is not going to help this pitching staff. This staff needed help and it still needs help. Cabrera's defense is arguably going to affect the staff in a negative manner more so than a positive manner, but that argument is for a different time. There were names such as Michael Wuertz, Jon Rauch, and Heath Bell linked to the Twins around the trade deadline...but as you called it yourself, those teams wanted to turn a Larry Anderson into a Jeff Bagwell. You, much like your protege Terry Ryan, just could not part with your precious, untouchable prospects...and the Twins and someone like Matt Guerrier, are going to feel the effects of it.
When Wilson Ramos turns into nothing more than Mike Rivera, then what are you going to think? You had the opportunity, regardless of what teams wanted. I don't know what teams were asking for someone like Wuertz or Bell. No one will know beyond the people that were taking part in the negotiating...but what we do know is that something COULD have gotten done if you would have opted to do so. The Twins, regardless of what people think, have the pieces in their system to get something done.
Speaking of in their system, why is Anthony Slama still in AA? Is it his .204 BAA? His 2.63 ERA? Or his 12.62 K/9? Don't give us the bullshit excuse that he still needs to work on his 'makeup' or 'leadership' qualities. The guy has thrown a major league amount of innings in AA without even sniffing Rochester. You moved his bullpen sidekick Robert Delaney who looks to have figured it out after a rough start in AAA? Why has Slama, at 25 years old and a potential option to help the Twins bullpen, not been moved more aggressively? He's cheap, and he would not cost the Twins an 'untouchable.'
Oh, I know...they must still be hoping for a postseason berth at New Britain and they could not afford to lose their closer.
Or what a starting pitcher? Could you not have gone out an gotten Kevin Correia from the Padres or Jon Garland from the D-Backs? Guess not.
You are lucky Bill Smith; lucky that the players who wanted you and your staff to make a move have been suckered in to thinking that Cabrera is that 'impact' move that could put this team over the top and into the postseason. Forget the beat down that the Angels just provided 40,000+ fans over the last two games. It was just one of those series, right? Wrong. It has been happening all too often for the Twins since the All-Star break. But don't worry, there is also Philip Humber or Reid Santos waiting in the wings to step in, right?
The blame game has long passed the likes of Delmon Young vs. Carlos Gomez. It has moved onto not what you, Bill Smith, have done...but what you have not done. I know there are still opportunities left to the waiver wire deadline, but do we really expect the Twins to make a splash? Their big move a season ago to address the bullpen was bringing back Eddie Guardado who proved to be about as effective as a wet napkin. One can just not afford to put trust into Bill Smith and his front office cronies making a move that will ultimately help this baseball team.
If it were up to the many disgruntled and frustrated Twins fans, you would have never became the general manager of this baseball team. But because the Twins have a 'Twins way' of doing things, you were given such a position...a position off the field that is going to ultimately cost the Twins a chance at winning a very winnable division as we also watch a .355/.426/.592 season go by the wayside.
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