Giveaways.

This one hurt.  It's one thing to lose because the other team is better than you are.  It's another thing to lose because you fail to make what for big league ballplayers are routine plays.

On the other hand, I don't know what the Twins can do about it.  They don't have three better outfielders, taking both offense and defense into consideration, than Oswaldo Arcia.  They're not likely to have three better outfielders than Arcia, at least not this year.  They need his bat in the lineup, and since they have Morales at the DH spot that means they have to live with his glove in the lineup, too.  All they can do is have him keep working to get better, as I'm sure he already is.

Ricky Nolasco had another one of his "almost good" games, lasting only 5.1 innings and allowed three runs on nine hits and two walks.  I'm aware that the defense could've helped him more, and if it had his numbers would be better.  On the other hand, if Jared Burton hadn't bailed him out in the sixth, his numbers would be a lot worse.  Since the first of May, he's only had one really terrible game, but he hasn't had any really good games, either.  So far, he has fit a description Bill James once gave of a pitcher:  he pitches just well enough to fool you into pitching him some more.

One of the trickiest things about managing has to be figuring out how long to go with a struggling player.  It reminds me of a quote from Doctor Who:  a little patience goes a long way, but too much patience goes absolutely nowhere.  The Twins are paying Nolasco a substantial amount of money, and his history indicates that he should be better than this, which makes the Twins want to be patient with him.  On the other hand, he's really not showing any signs of improvement, at least not in results.  So, do they leave him in the rotation, hoping that he'll get better, but knowing that until he does they're going to have to score a bunch of runs to win?  Or do they bring someone up from Rochester and give them a chance?  So far, the Twins have chosen the first option, and I imagine they will for a while yet.  Time will tell whether their patience will be rewarded.

Meanwhile, the Twins move further east to take on the Bostons.  Staff Ace Phil Hughes goes for the Twins against Jon Lester.  Lester seems to be a little underrated--he's only once gotten any serious Cy Young consideration, yet he's among the best pitchers in the league every year.  Still, that should not be a worry for the Twins, as tonight we start our season-ending ninety-five-game winning streak.  We'll just have to settle for 127-35!