The 2011 Twins in a nutshell.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyfjZlOSq2A

When does Spring Training start?

I didn't get to watch or listen to this game at all, as I was working until midnight at my former job as part of a consulting gig I offered to take on until I can transfer all the knowledge I amassed during my tenure there. I have very limited internet access at my new job, so I won't be able to post tomorrow, so I wanted to get something up.

I checked in a couple times during the game and was surprised to see they scored 6 runs. I was less surprised that they lost anyway thanks to their craptastic bullpen. As I can't give a whole lot more than that on the game, I thought I'd start a post which may be early to talk about the 2012 Twins (who I sincerly hope earn their W back).

I think part of the big problem they're going to have next year is that the there is a very thin crop of middle infielders, which I still think is their most glaring need. I don't mind having Plouffe, Nishioka, Casilla, or Hughes manning those spots occasionally, but we basically have four guys who should be backups as the starters. And the depth beyond that is... well, I don't consider that depth. It's too bad Jose Reyes has probably played himself into a $100+ million deal. We could sign a Type A free agent without surrendering a pick!

I'm assuming that Span & Revere are for sure in the outfield. I'm guessing one of Cuddyer or Kubel will be back. I'm thinking Tosoni & Benson will be in the mix at some point. I don't have a lot of concerns here other than Cuddyer getting a giant albatross of a contract.

The starting pitching was clearly exposed this year, and who knows what they'll ride into next year with. The bullpen is, um, less than adequate. I'm hoping they can restructure something to lock up Nathan for another couple of years. I hope Neck Fat isn't a disaster again. I hope Perkins continues to be lights out. I would like Duensing back into the 'pen. After that, I hope they can find someone on the scrap heap and not pay them outrageous sums of money.

I think right now outside of Mauer, Morneau, Span, and Valencia, I don't know who I'd be too attached to on the roster to carry over into next year. I think next year's team is going to look vastly different. I hope there is a front office shakeup. Any chance they can go hire Andrew Friedmann to overhaul the team? I just don't want them to think everything will be fine when they're healthy. This team had horrible health and was unlucky... but there were a crapload of problems beyond that.

What are your thoughts on what next year's team will look like? Thinking about a better roster next year is about all I have left.

Another Twins game, another brutal loss. Tonight they were murdered by accused murderer manslaughterer Alfredo Simon and the mighty 49-77 Orioles. JJ Hardy reminded us again how stupid that trade was. I imagine the rest of the season will continue to be like watching a dog take a dump in your lawn in slow motion. Only 34 more games to go, then we can start counting down towards Spring Training and the beginning of next season when the Twins will finally be at .500 again.

Final Score: Bodymore Orioles 8, Minnesota Twins 1.
Twins Record: 55-73, 15.0 GB in the AL Central.
WP: Alfredo Simon (4-6) | LP: Brian "Right Handed Batters Have a .961 OPS Against Me" Duensing (8-13)

This is horribly late, my apologies for that. Great game for the boys last night. Pavano pitched a real stinker, but the bats kept the boys in the game. Watching them make Feliz look like Matt Capps was a sweet, sweet bonus. A Rangers fan was riding me hard on Monday night, and told me to "let him know when Mauer hits something other than a single," so there was a little extra in my fist pump when Mauer stroked that double into left.

Nathan looks filthy, and it makes me happy. I hope he takes sole possession of being All Time King of Savers: Twins Division tonight so meat has that to write about tomorrow.

Final Score: Minnesota Twins 9, Texas Rangers 8
Twins Record: 48-55, 7.0 GB in the AL Central.
WP: Glen Perkins (3-1) | LP: Neftali Feliz (0-2)

This was one of those games that even though the hometown nine won, it wasn't terribly satisfying. Early in the game, they had some hits against Shields but never really seemed to string together enough to get an extended rally. The runs they scored were on a ground out and a bloop single that got past the Rays' right fielder. Clearly the more concerning things are Baker leaving with an elbow injury & Capps's continued ineptitude.

Everything the training staff said yesterday made this seem like a minor injury for Baker, but their track record is spotty at best. If Baker is out of the rotation for significant time, this will definitely hurt the Twins' chances of making a comeback. He's definitely been the ace of the staff, and I would be pretty bummed if he lost significant time since he has been so darn good. I want Slowey to be freed and I look forward to seeing Gibson in the rotation, but I do not want it to come at the expense of Baker's rotation spot.

Capps has been crapp in his last three outings, and I don't want him on the mound at all. He's pure butt right now. He needs a couple days off to get his mind right. He needs some low leverage work to get sorted out. Early in the season, I liked him as the middle-late inning fireman. If Nathan can take over 9th inning duties, Perkins can continue to ball outrageous, and Capps can reclaim that role the bullpen would be much better for it. There's no sense in throwing him out there to get pounded in the 9th over and over just because he's the "closer."

The Indigenous People & Tigers lost last night. Seven back. I can hardly believe it. I can't wait for the Indians & Tigers to come to town after the All Star Break.

Final Score: Minnesota Twins 3, Tampa Bay Rays 2
Twins Record: 38-46, 7.0 GB in the AL Central.
WP: Scott Baker (7-5) | LP: James Shields (8-6)

Well this sure was fun. The game started as I left my office, and by the time I got to my car it was already decided.

In the top of the first the Twins decided to celebrate the summer solstace by not making outs. This plan was, of course, ruined by Pavano's strike out and Joe GIDPer hitting into yet another double play. When all was said and done, the Twins tagged Madison Bumgarner for 9 hits, and 8 runs. He pitched one third of an inning. Yikes.

With a lot of room for error, Pavano pitched an efficient game. Thankfully he pitched much better than he hit batted. You chose the right profession, Carl. The game was essentially on cruise control until the 9th when Alexi "Babe Ruth" Casilla muscled up and hit his second homer in the last two games. If you extrapolate that out over the rest of the season, methinks Alexi will be in the running for MVP.

Eight wins in a row, three of them against the teams in last year's World Series, and two against the South Siders? Twins baseball is fun again. I am still surprised every time I see that they're under .500 on account of how good they've been playing. I'm thinking this is going to be a fun summer.

Final Score: Minnesota Twins 9, San Francisco Giants 2
Twins Record: 32-39, 6.5 GB in the AL Central. Do you suppose the Tigers & Native Persons hear footsteps yet?
WP: Carl Pavano (5-5) | LP: Madison Bumgarner (3-9)
Madison Bumgarner's Game Score Last Night? 2.