Is it time to give up on the 2009 Twins? Depends on the goal. American League pennant? Yup. Central Division title? Not yet.
Even Norman Vincent Peale would be challenged to cheerlead the Twins’ pennant prospects. The pre-season concerns about the starting pitching and middle inning relievers not being experienced and proven were justified. The team ERA is 4.63, 10th among 14 AL teams. Collectively the staff (18 pitchers have been on the roster) has given up 126 home runs, third most in the league.
A troubled situation has been made worse by the season ending loss of starter Kevin Slowey. The remaining starting staff of Scott Baker, Nick Blackburn, Francisco Liriano, Glen Perkins and Anthony Swarzak could wear the same “name” on the back of their jerseys: “Mr. Inconsistent.”
The front office couldn’t acquire pitching help prior to the July 31 trade deadline. It appears the Twins are waiting for reinforcements next spring when recovery from injuries is expected to allow the return of starters Slowey and Boof Bonser, and eighth inning set-up reliever Pat Neshek.
The Twins are 4.5 games back of first place Detroit in the Central Division, and 2.5 behind Chicago. It requires optimism to see the Twins winning the division but they do have all-stars in catcher Joe Mauer, first baseman Justin Morneau and closer Joe Nathan, and solid help from players like newly acquired shortstop Orlando Cabrera, and also outfielder Michael Cuddyer and designated hitter Jason Kubel. Plus, the coaching staff is proven and capable, led by manager Ron Gardenhire and pitching coach Rick Anderson.
Then, too, the Twins have 10 of their 54 remaining games against Detroit (starting tonight in Motown) and six with the White Sox. The Twins are 6-2 against the Tigers so far. They’re 7-5 versus the White Sox.
The Twins have nine games left against Cleveland (46-62) and even that doesn’t look so good after losing two out of three with the Indians earlier this week. The Twins are 5-4 versus Cleveland this year.
But the pennant? That will require a mega dose of optimism to predict a league title because the Twins don’t compare on paper and on the field with the AL’s finest. The Yankees and Red Sox are the best in the East. The Twins are a combined 2-11 against those two clubs. The West Division leading Angels produced 35 runs in a three game sweep in Minneapolis last weekend. For the season the Angels won the series, 6-4.