The Twins are already eight games into the season and while it’s too soon to make judgments that could stick for the whole year, we already have a few impressions:
The team’s 4-4 record includes a sweep of two series and two road wins. Not bad for a club that has four players new to their positions in the big leagues, a rebuilt rotation of starting pitchers and before the season was a coast-to-coast pick to finish last in the AL Central Division.
The pitchers, including those coming out of the bullpen, won’t overwhelm with velocity, but often show a lot of grit. The will to compete must characterize the whole team because the Twins are — at best — an ordinary bunch in the talent category.
Pitching always defines a season and maybe the Twins have cobbled together an okay starting staff once left-hander Scott Diamond rejoins the team. Yes, the work of starter Mike Pelfrey was ugly last night giving up eight hits and six earned runs in two innings leading to a 7-4 loss to the Royals, but that kind of performance hasn’t been the norm.
And the bullpen could be at least adequate, led by eighth inning setup man Jared Burton and closer Glen Perkins (two saves and no hits given up in three innings). Better bullpen efforts and surprises have included Anthony Swarzak’s four innings, three hits and one run work last night.
Defense is priority No. 2 after pitching and the Twins are pretty much rebuilt up the middle with rookie center fielder Aaron Hicks, new full time shortstop Pedro Florimon and second baseman Brian Dozier moving over from shortstop, his position last year. No doubts about Hicks covering ground in center with a strong throwing arm (but pardon his hitting, two hits in 30 at bats). Florimon, who played in 43 games with the Twins last season, has made low throws to first base. He and Dozier are working at their double play efficiency.
Dozier gives the Twins outstanding range at second base. Catcher Joe Mauer has dropped a foul ball pop-up, had a passed ball on Monday and at times had trouble trying to handle pitches thrown in the dirt.
Hicks has to cover for the slow moving Josh Willingham in left field. Converted first bseman Chris Parmelee has been okay so far. Mauer shows off a strong arm throwing from behind the plate, converted shortstop Trevor Plouffe has range at third base, and first baseman Justin Morneau is outstanding coming up with low throws. Sum it all up and the Twins could be average or better defensively.
Willingham, despite his slow-footedness, certainly doesn’t have to apologize for being in the lineup. He hit 35 home runs last season and is one of five Twins who have homered so far. Minnesota has hit six home runs (three last night), ranking 12th out of 15 AL teams.
Last year the Twins tied with the Royals for a league low 131 home runs. The Twins were 10th in the AL in runs scored, 1,448. They rank 9h in runs scored with 33 as of today.
This team won’t dazzle with power because other than Willingham, Morneau and maybe Plouffe, no one else is likely to threaten 25 home runs for the season. The club will have to hustle up runs with singles, doubles and savvy base running (only four stolen bases so far). They will need to show grit to score runs.
There’s that word again.