This Is It

The Twins start a three game series with the White Sox tonight at home. The math says differently, but if they are going to take the AL Central and get into the playoffs then reality says they have to sweep the Sox I think. Anything less and the season is realistically over. That may not be a bad thing, since they weren't expected to be even close to this position, they probably wouldn't last the first series in the playoffs, and it may leave them hungrier to fix what needs to be fixed for next season. I'll root for them to win and enjoy watching these last two series no matter what. I'm really more focused though on what they need to do for next year. In my humble opinion, those things are:

Defense: They need to figure out the left side of the infield and stick with it so they develop some chemistry. Across the board though, they need to improve their fielding. They will not win squat as an average fielding team and that's all they are this year. They have shown brilliance at times this year and then turned around and done the lamest errors in the field. Errors happen, but have to be better than average to go anywhere.

Starters: The Twins have a great group of young talent and I like that they go after hitters. That means home runs will be given up, but I think there were too many momentary lapses of reason this year. The starters have to do better on giving up home runs and they damn well better be putting out more quality starts in Aug/Sep next year.

Bullpen: What was the best bullpen in baseball is staggering to the end of the season. Maybe not a total rebuild is needed since Nathan is there at closer, but just about everyone else is up for grabs. I haven't cringed this much at the bullpen in years.

Mental mistakes: They happen, but geez it's been a bad year for that. I think a lot of that is due to inexperience and that means next year should be better. Serious helpings of brain food wouldn't hurt for the offseason though, and if Gardenhire doesn't have the trainer making menus for these guys then he should be fired. Oh, just kidding. Sort of. I bet if I could wave a magic wand and cut a third of the dumb things they have done on the bases this year, the Twins would be up 1 1/2 on the Sox right now. At least.

All of that said, it's been a fun season and a heck of a lot more interesting than I thought it would be. At the start of the season I didn't figure they would be even close to contention, so this is great. I'm cheering them on this week and hope they do well. If not, back to thinking about the future. 

Comments

[Rob]

Off to a good start. One at a time. I think playoff experience would be a good thing and I think they can beat any of the playoff teams. It's wide open if you ask me. I think the Angels are going to the World Series but they're surely not a lock.

[Dave E.]

Yeah, they played well tonight. I'm not going to jinx them by saying anything else.

I saw that you got your yards from Gates and a TD to boot.

[Rob]

I needed the win. My team is decimated by injuries and byes this week.

[Rob]

WOW. Go Twins

[Dave E.]

Pretty heady stuff, sweeping Chicago. They will probably need all three games against the Royals and that's asking a lot too. The Royals are 11-2 in their last 13 games and are not to be taken lightly. Also, from what I've read Chicago doesn't have to make up that game with Detroit if it's meaningless? I always thought a 162 game season was set in stone.

[Rob]

They've been doing that for a few years now. Hardly ever have doubleheaders, either. I know doubleheaders were hard on the ballplayers but I surely liked them every once in a while. Ernie Banks had it right.

"Let's play two"