Twins Rubes Single-Handedly Brought Willingham to Minnesota

I realize it has been a loooooonnnnnnngggg time since we've come out of the pitch-black cave that is Twins depression.  So, these last few days and weeks of winter meetings and free agent signings have started to get the juices flowing again for Spring Training 2012.  Last night on my way home, I was listening to Bumper to Bumper on KFAN (they were asking sarcastically if Willingham knew how hard it was to hit home runs at Target Field) and suddenly realized how much of an impact Twins Rubes may have on the future of the Twins organization!  Here's how Twins Rubes brought Josh Willingham to Minnesota.

Is it Opening Day tomorrow?

With the exception of Scott Baker's recent trip the DL, the 2011 Minnesota Twins as of tomorrow will be at "full strength" as far as the 25 man roster is concerned - basically for the first time all year!  This morning on KFAN, P.A. had Seth Stohs on talking about how potentially potent this lineup could be with everyone back.  Currently 9.5 games behind division leading Detroit with 45 games to play, I am not quite ready to relinquish hope of a comeback just yet.  Once again, we have 9 games left with Detroit, 9 with Cleveland, and 6 with the White Sox.  On Friday our lineup will quickly turn from a lineup filled with Repko, Butera, Hughes, Plouffe, and Dinkleman; to a lineup that is truly "stacked" on paper.  Let's take a look at the possibilities!

Looking for a winner: Justin Morneau

Yesterday I wondered if we had anyone on our roster that you could call a "gamer", a winner, a guy that will do whatever it takes to break up a double play, a guy that will run over the catcher to score the tying run, a guy that will make the great play in the field to turn a double play to get out of a bases loaded jam.  I'm not sure who that guy would be right now.  The obvious idea would be to look to a guy like Joe Mauer (MVP winner, hometown hero, batting champ, etc) to have a Kirby Puckett-esque game to get this team back on track, but Mauer just isn't that personality.


Last night, http://www.twinsbaseball.com/ writer @rhettbollinger tweeted this: "Morneau texted #Twins GM Bill Smith to say he wants to face Lester tomorrow. Smith texted back 'We'll see you in Detroit' according to Gardy."  Now that's a little disappointing/frustrating to me.  We have a guy that is itching to get back and face one of the toughest pitchers in baseball to try to help get this team back on track, and Morneau gets shot down.  Morneau is 9-22 on his current rehab stint in Rochester, including 4 doubles and 5 RBI in his 5 games.  I realize the Twins probably want him to get 15-20 more at-bats before returning to the Twins, but when you're team is struggling all the way around as much as it is, will it really matter to Morneau's health whether he is playing in Rochester or in Minnesota?  This is the shot in the arm this team needs as the season slips through their fingertips, and our "gamer" gets shot down.  That's disappointing.

2011 Twins: What are we good at?

As the 2011 season quickly fades away, and the Twins slowly disappear in Detroit's rear view mirror; I woke up this morning wondering this: What are the 2011 Twins good at?  We have a roster filled with names.  We have former MVP's, future Hall of Famer's, 1st round picks, and former top prospects; yet we can't seem to win a baseball game.  Our lineup consists of guys like Span, Mauer, Kubel, Thome, Cuddyer, Young, and Nishioka; but we can't win a baseball game.  With the roster the Twins have, we must be good at something, right?  Right.  We are good at 2 things.

The Twins Desperately Need...Alexi Casilla?

Alexi Casilla last saw the field on July 27th when he pulled up legging out a double.  Since that day, the Twins have gone 2-8 and quickly lost 4 crucial games in the standings to the Tigers.  We have been without many key players this season losing guys like Mauer, Morneau, Span, and Kubel to significant injuries; but out of all of those injuries, the spark has been gone without Alexi Casilla the lineup.  It feels a little weird even saying that, but for the first time in my life I sit here today counting down the days until Alexi Casilla gets off the DL!

The Case For Nishi

My wife and I went to the Twins/Sox game on Friday night (thanks Carlos Quentin for ruining the day) - it was my wife's first game at Target Field!  Buerhle was on the hill for the White Sox, so naturally we were driving out of the parking ramp 2.5 hours after the first pitch.  As usual we sat one row in front of the father/son or grandfather/son who knew everything about baseball.  You know who I'm talking about.  It was the grandpa/dad who was there to teach this 15 year old everything there was to know about baseball because he had seen in all in his lifetime.  Normally this isn't a big deal to me, but this guy 2nd guessed everything!  The guy hated everything that was Twins baseball - Butera squared too early on a sacrifice bunt, Gardy didn't put Perkins in in the 4th inning, Valencia didn't do anything right.  What a good way to ruin the Target Field experience for everyone around them.

Twins Fever at a Mid-Season High

It has been a long time since I have been able to sit down and put my thoughts together on the Twins. I have been encouraged with their play over the last 5 weeks. The Twins are 24-11 since June 1st and have made up 10 games in the standings, (although they've only made up 4.5 games on Detroit over that span). Strangely enough, this stretch included a six-game losing streak. I'm not exactly sure what happened there. Anyway, the run to the 2011 pennant is in full swing.

The following list of things has me very excited about the final 73 games of the season:

• The starting pitching has been getting deeper into games. Pavano and Baker have now raised their season average above 6.5 innings per start. Swarzak has saved the team in the spot starts he has made. Duensing and Liriano have both thrown complete game shutouts, and although Blackburn has really struggled in his last 3 starts, the Twins still managed to win 2 of them.
• The innings logged by the starters has reduced the amount that the bullpen needs to be relied upon. My feeling on the bullpen this year can be summed up with "Less Is More." Yet, I still feel pretty good about the bullpen getting through 3 innings if needed.
• The Twins have been clutch at the plate which has led to an increase in run production. Prior to June 2, the Twins averaged 3.5 runs per game, since June 2 their runs per game average has increased to 4.5. The team has to be clutch when they don't hit it out of the park.
• Casilla, Nishioka, and Revere have been making terrific plays in the field. Although the Twins are low in the fielding rankings and still have trouble at times completing double plays, they are now making plays that they didn't make earlier in the season. Revere has outstanding range, and Casilla and Nishioka seem to be figuring out how to work together now that they have switched between shortstop and second base.

The next 11 games out of the All-Star break are against Kansas City, Detroit and Cleveland. The Twins need to continue the climb again the division and really put the pressure on the division leaders as the season stretches into August and September. Chicago and Detroit have proven in the past that they have the ability to crumble down the stretch. Cleveland has been ravaged by injuries so much in the past that they haven't been in this situation since 2007. Most people thought they would have folded by now and they haven't, so I believe they will be around until the end.

6.5 games out of the lead at the All-Star break is not too much for this team to overcome. The Twins have done it in the past and can do it again. Sometimes it has taken 163 games, but the Twins will not give up until the final out has been made.

Sunday Sermons

The Twins are 81 games into the season - the half way point - and we are stuck at 35 wins, 9 games behind the Central Division leading Cleveland Indians.  Not to beat a dead horse, but how are the Indians still leading this division?  Wait, the fact that the Indians are still leading the division is the biggest thing that continues to give me hope that this division is still in reach.  An extremely young team leads the division, and 2 teams notorious for 2nd half collapses are the other obstacles in our way.  There are a few frustrations I have, apart from the revolving door at the DL, that need to be addressed this 2nd half.

I'm trying not to act on just emotion from last night here when I suggest the possibility of giving Glen Perkins a little more responsibility out of that bullpen.  This makes sense in my head for a number of reasons.  Matt Capps, although he has the closer experience, has struggled greatly this year.  Capps has 13 saves, but has blown 6 saves already!  Capps has a 4.67 ERA, and has been the opposite of dominating the way you would like to see a closer do so.  To me, Glen Perkins has the mental make-up to be the guy in these pressure situations.  The guy looks like he doesn't even know that he's playing in the big leagues.  If you watch him run around during batting practice, you would wonder if he is the bat boy with his child-like attitude.  Nothing seems to rile this guy up.  In 29.1 innings so far, Perk has yet to give up a home run, and seems to have more movement on his fastball than Capps, making it difficult for guys like Nyjer Morgan to get the barrel on the ball.  I like the Capps pounds the strike zone and rarely walks anyone (4 walks so far), but man do I get nervous when he takes the hill!

Here's another question: Why does it seem so impossible for the Twins to steal any bases?  It was beyond frustrating last night to see Nishioka and Repko (and Hughes if you want to include the broken double steal) get thrown out - by a mile - by a catcher in Lucroy who had only thrown out 4 baserunners all year before that.  Stealing bases is definitely not all about just pure speed.  There is a skill to it, and it takes work to get really good at it.  If it was only about speed, I think Nishioka, Span, Repko, Casilla, and Revere would have no problem taking bags at will.  There is a young man in Fargo right now by the name of Maury Wills that has a little experience stealing bases (104 SB in 1964, led NL in SB 6 straight years from 1960-65).  I wonder what it would take to get him out of the F-M Redhawks radio booth and down to Target Field to work with some of these guys every day to learn how to better read pitchers, get better jumps, and successfully put a little more pressure on defenses.  We have the team speed to do it, but none of these guys seem like natural base stealers.

Let me leave you with this: Joe Mauer has a 7 game hitting streak going right now.  Our lineup consisting of Repko, Butera, Nishioka and Company broke out for 14 hits last night despite the loss.  If Blackburn leads us to a win this afternoon, that will give us 7 series wins out of 9 since the beginning of June.  We've been playing much better baseball, and we have 15 of our next 19 games at Target Field - 16 of those games against our 4 division rivals.  The Twins are playing as good of baseball as they have all year (I know, not saying much) and July will be the month to make another push toward .500 and the Central division lead.

Congratulations, Michael Cuddyer, on your first All-Star selection.  As much as even Twins fans are going to question this selection, Cuddy definitely deserves it - even as a lifetime achievement award.  Good work Cuddy!

Perkins is Workin!

At the beginning of this year, I know some Twins Rubes (myself) that were down on Glen Perkins. But what a pleasant surprise he has turned out to be this season. The Twins have always believed that their 2004 1st-round pick has the stuff to be a really good pitcher in this league. And things looked great in 2008 when Perkins pitched 151 innings in 26 starts, striking out 74 while posting a 4.41 ERA. But since then Perkins had a fallout with Gardy and a couple below average seasons bouncing between AAA and Minnesota. So maybe it was for good reason that I didn't expect Perkins to accept a role in the bullpen, let alone excel at it. But he has!

Perkins touched 95 mph today while striking out arguably the 2 best Dodgers hitters in Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp - who by the way is putting up MVP numbers (.331/.415/.628 with 22 HR and 22 SB) this season. Perkins has now stuck out 29 batters in 29 innings while posting an ERA of 1.93. But beyond the numbers, Perkins has been the most reliable pitcher out of the 'pen this year and has blossomed in his new set-up role. When Perkins takes the mound in crucial situations, I am confident that he's going to get people out. And today's performance, striking out Ethier and Kemp, is trend and not mirage.

Although I wasn't confident in Perkins to begin 2011, I am very excited about what he's doing. I remember going to a game in 2009 at the Metrodome with a bunch of friends and we commented on how loose and easy going Perkins was. He looked like enjoyed playing baseball! At the time when he was struggling, it looked more like he didn't really care about his job. But now I feel like I can say that Perkins loves what he does, and I love watching him. And I'm happy for him. A Minnesota kid who has battled adversity, matured right in front of our eyes, and become a staple in the bullpen for Our Favorite 9!

Starting at 1B...Joe Mauer?

Over 2 months ago, I wrote about how frustrating it was to see Joe Mauer go on the DL with "bi-lateral leg weakness."  At the time in my rage, I would have done anything to see Mauer come back to play at a different position that catcher, as it only seems to bring more days off for #7.  Now I hear that Morneau is going to have surgery on his neck to take care of that nerve problem he has been dealing with, and Joe Christensen of the Star Tribune says that Gardy brought up the possibility of Mauer playing some 1B.

Looking back, this was not the scenario I envisioned of Mauer making a position switch, nor was it the scenario I would have picked if I had my choice.  It's definitely discouraging to see Morneau go down again.  Out of all the guys on this roster, Morneau is the guy you root for to stay healthy.  It just seems like it never happens with the big Canadian.

While it's a major bummer to see #33 go down, it's nice to know that the Twins seem to excel down the stretch without arguably our best hitter.  Not only that, but it will hopefully give Mauer a chance to stay in the lineup, and ensure roster spots for some of our hot-hitting young kids (see: Luuuuuuuuuuuuuke).  We also know that Cuddyer has gotten a head start on his late season run over the last week or two; so if we can get Delmon going like last season, get Thome and Kubel back in the lineup, and watch Nishioka continue to get comfortable, it's going to be a great 2nd half ride Twins fans!  Maybe this year, September will be the month that Morneau actually gets to play!

Fanatics Unite!

The term "fan" stems from the word "fanatic", which is defined by www.dictionary.com as "a person with an extreme and uncritical enthusiasm or zeal."  It's been hard this season to be uncritical, but that positivity is finally paying off!  Our favorite club has made up something like 8.5 games in the last 19 days to pull within 8 games of the division-leading Cleveland Indians - wait, the Indians still lead the division?  If you saw any highlights from this afternoon, you know why they are still leading the division: Asdrubal Cabrera.  This guy made an unbelievable bare-handed play today that you have to see.

That's enough about the Indians, though.  How the heck did we make up so much ground so fast?  The obvious answer is that we keep winning.  The Twins are 14-3 now in June after sweeping the Padres (on Father's Day, naturally) for their seventh straight win.  My answer is: this team is good enough for this run to be relatively normal.  Starting pitching has been no less than solid 1-5, guys are running the bases and creating runs, and our backup catcher is getting walk-off hits.  I hate to beat a dead horse, but we still have Morneau, Span, Kubel, Nathan, and Thome getting ready to come off the DL, with Nishioka and Mauer just getting back into the full swing of things.  Positivity is at an all time high!

Now, I have to confess that I haven't seen much of the Twins these last 2 weeks due to some weddings/family vacations/chasing after my slow-pitch softball dreams.  Maybe I should continue to rely on my ESPN alerts via text message a little longer and see if we can sustain this run!

Let me offer just a little more positivity moving forward to assure you that this run will be sustained.  The upcoming schedule includes 3 games in San Francisco, who has lost 4 in a row - getting swept by Oakland this weekend.  After that we have 3 in Milwaukee - if you are scared of any team from Wisconsin, there's a problem that we can address later.  Then we're back home with series' against the Dodgers, Brewers again, and the Rays.  Once we get through that little run, the middle of July will be move-making time in the Central Division as we have 4 game series' against the Sox, Royals, Indians, and Detroit.  Only the White Sox series is on the road, and we all know that we own the Sox no matter where the game is played.  There is 9 straight opponents where it is realistic to think we have a very good shot to win nearly all of those series'.

The hardest part about being a Twins fan for the next month will be watching some guys get sent down that have been a big part of the run we are on.  Hopefully Billy Smith can find a way to keep Revere and Hughes up here.  Those two guys have quickly become two of my favorites this year.  No matter what the roster looks like, this is going to be an exciting summer as a "fanatic".  Whatever you do, pay close attention to the little things that happen - I have a good feeling this is going to be one of those seasons that you will want to tell your kids and grandkids about someday.

So Many Choices

I need your help!  I was in Seattle last week and went to my new favorite store in the world: Ebbets Field Flannels.  You should check them out here!  My wife was excited enough to let me buy 3 new hats, and I need your help to decide which one I should wear for my slow-pitch softball game this Thursday night.  Here they are...

The one on the left is from the 1944 Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League.  In the middle is the 1942 Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro American League.  Lastly on the right is the 1941 Utica Braves of the Canadian-American League.

This is very important so please submit your vote in the poll on the right side of the page.  We play our biggest rivals this Thursday, so your feedback is needed and appreciated!

Hope Is More Fun Than Logic

I read this comment ("Hope is more fun than logic.") from a reader of a Star Tribune article this morning, and it made me understand why it's so fun to be a baseball fan - specifically a Twins fan.  I love football, but the reason I love baseball even more is that every day is a new day.  If the Vikings lose, it ruins my week.  If the Twins lose, I have only hours to dwell on the loss before the next game.  The fact that the season is 162 gives the baseball fan a reason to think that anything is possible.  Logic makes everything black and white and eliminates possibilities, dreams, and a reason to be a fan.  Hope is fun and is the reason a baseball fan watches their last place team play every night, trying to figure out what would need to happen to still win the division.

Hope for the Twins

Apparently there are no relief pitchers available anywhere. Not in Rochester, not in New Britain, not in Ft. Myers, Beloit, Elizabethton, or anywhere else. Because, if there were, Gardy wouldn't be going to the well named Hughes-Burnett-Hoey over and over and over. The Twins are getting the same results time after time with that crew and it is amazing that they can keep coughing it up on such a regular basis. I never thought I would miss Crain, Guerrier, Rausch, and Neshek, all at the same time. Frustration is running at an all-time high with this Twins fan.

There is a way for the Twins to win with this current bullpen, however, I have figured out the answer! Here's the deal: no going to the bullpen. Twins starting pitchers can't come out of the game unless they are pulled out by the team doctor. Their arms need to be falling off. Maybe that means that Kyle Gibson needs to be called up to make a six-man rotation, since the pitchers will be throwing 160+ pitches. No more wasting pitches, no more senseless walks and best of all - no more bullpen meltdowns.

It's not too late!

I Need A Refill

When you've been a Twins fan your whole entire life, it would be easy to say that this year's slide is borderline "normal".  Since the day I was born nearly 28 years ago, we have had 14 losing seasons.  You'd think that isn't so bad, considering there have also been 2 World Series victories sprinkled in there.  But, when only 1 of those 14 losing seasons occurred in the last 11 years, it's a little hard to swallow a record of 15-31 right now - good for last in the Central Division, the American League, Major League Baseball, and probably the world.

As I've mentioned before, my wife says one of my best qualities is my endless positivity.  I have to confess, though, that I haven't had the best feeling about my favorite team lately.  Every time I think we're about to turn the corner (ex: sweeping the Indians, Lirano's no-no, Cuddyer's homer against the Jays = really hard high fives that make your hands turn red - and we give up 6 in the 11th to lose, our offense finally scoring runs in bunches vs. the D'Backs - only to get swept, and Span going 3-5 with a homer and Thome's 2 bombs last night - only to see us blow it in the 8th and 9th again), everything that could go wrong does go wrong.

Frankly, I'm getting weary of hearing about how "that's the Twins for ya'", or "leave it to the Twins to let you down".  I am proud that I have grown up loving the Twins, getting to see 2 World Championships and many division titles.  Sure, we've crumbled in the playoffs lately.  Sure, we're dead last in baseball right now when it seems like our talent should have us right in the mix.  Sure, it seems like every Minnesota sports franchise is in the tank right now (the Wolves can't even get the #1 pick for cryin' out loud!).

What I need today is a refill.  I heard a good friend of mine say last week in an unrelated situation, "It won't matter in the morning."  In the grand scheme of life, will it matter whether the Twins get 1st or last this year?  I think we could (or should) all agree that it won't matter in the morning.  However, it sure is fun to invest my emotions and energy into something I have no control over.  I need a refill of that positivity today.  If you've made it to the end of this post, I sure do appreciate you taking the time to read my rant.  Give me some positivity in the comments and remind me again why "it's gonna be ok".  Go Twins!

No more Minnesota Nice. Hopefully.

Another disappointing weekend for our beloved 9 in Arizona. After an encouraging 3-game win streak on the West Coast got Twins fans (or maybe just me) thinking that we had reached some proverbial corner... instead, we found out we are circling an octagon - there are many corners to turn. The weekend was characteristic of the 2011 season thus far - bullpen issues, poor fielding, inability to come through in clutch places at the plate, and of course the lack of the use of the strike zone. Oh ya, and injuries (see Glen Perkins heading to the ** - I have decided that "DL" is now a swear word, so I don't say it anymore, just **).

This week will prove to be an important week for the Twins. I know, like the previous 7 weeks didn't mean anything?? Well, Jim Thome and Jason Repko return to the team on Monday. One of the crutches that we have been using is the fact that we have these "potholes" in our lineup, and defensively we have looked more like my 6th grade pee-wee baseball team (we had a 4-11 record, struggled against right-handed pitching... and left-handed pitching). My point is, if this team has any aspirations of turning another 6 corners of this octagon soon, well, we're not looking for positive signs anymore. We just really need wins. Really bad.

6 home games this week. Is it 6-0 or bust? No. 5-1 is good, 4-2 acceptable. But if this week goes just as the entire 2011 season has gone... this Memorial Day we may be remembering the 2011 Minnesota Twins. (That of course is a figure of speech. Memorial Day is a very special day. A day each one of us needs to take time to remember those who have fallen for our freedom, and for those who continue to serve our country. God bless America!)

Go Twins!!

Mr. Killebrew

Harmon Killebrew passed away this morning at the age of 74 from esophageal cancer.  Unfortunately I am too young to have ever seen The Killer wear the Twins uniform, but everything I have ever seen, read, or heard tells me that this was an unbelievable man.  I was listening to the postgame show on Sunday as people were calling in telling stories of what they remember from Harmon.  The way he treated others, whether you were a teammate or just a fan, was very unlike most athletes today. 

I heard one story of a guy who caught Harmon after a game and asked him for an autograph.  Realizing he had left his pen up in the bleachers, he asked Mr. Killebrew to wait there so he could run back and get his pen.  When he came back there were 30 people lined up to get his autograph too, in the same spot where he had left Harmon waiting.  He talked to each person in line that day, and probably made 30 memories that will never be forgotten.

I never met Harmon Killebrew, but I sure do appreciate him.  Pray for his family today, as this is obviously a very tough time in their lives.  I hope I will get a chance to meet Harmon Killebrew someday.

Searching for Positivity

Well, it's 38 games into the 2011 season and we are 12.5 games back from the Indians - wait, the Indians?  How did that happen?  To top it off, we are 2 full games behind the next worst team in baseball down in Houston.  It doesn't look good, but my wife keeps reminding me that I am an eternal optimist.  Even though it's next to impossible to show any kind of optimism right now, let's do it!  Here are a handful of reasons for you Twins fans out there to stick with this 2011 season.

And It Gets Worse...

The Twins have now lost 7 games in a row - losing, today, to the Blue Jays 9-3, in 11 innings. Hoey and Mijares faced 7 batters in the 11th inning and managed to get no one out. I have absolutely zero confidence in the bullpen and Twins hitters are incredibly awful in the clutch.

Blackburn went 7 2/3 innings but left in a tied game. Right now, it looks like the starter will have to throw a complete game shutout for the Twins to get a win.

I will leave it at that, because I have nothing good to say.

The Twins Need Your Help

*Note: The following is fiction – or is it?

Rick Anderson and Ron Gardenhire, pitching coach and manager of the beleaguered Minnesota Twins are desperate for some help. They are requesting that anyone with information leading to the whereabouts of the strike zone contact them immediately. Twins pitchers have been unable to locate the strike zone this year at an alarming rate.

Gardenhire insisted that the mysterious disappearance of the strike zone is leading to his hair turning from "white" to "gone." Anderson belabored the fact that his jaw is fatigued from chomping on his gum excessively after being forced to witness walk upon walk issued to opposing batters. He may even need to spend some time on the Disabled List with something called “Bilateral Jaw Weakness.”

The duo even went so far as scheduling tryouts for a group of softball pitchers next week in an attempt to find someone who will “pitch to contact” and won’t issue senseless walks at breakneck speed. In a related story, Gardenhire has recently refused Michael Cuddyer’s persistent attempts at “giving it a shot from the mound.” No word yet, however, on whether Cuddyer will coach 3rd Base.

Please, Twins fans, help these guys out any way you can!

It's Ugly Right Now

The Twins are roughly 20% done with their season, and have little to show for it, other than a laundry list of injuries and a record against the AL East that would make the Timberwolves proud. If you were expecting some great analysis of the Twins, you’ve come to the wrong place. And as far as optimism goes, I trail Brent and Nathan in that category, too. With that said, here is my rundown on the state of the Twins to this point: Ugly. In fact, it’s been as ugly as a long touchdown pass through the hands of Troy Williamson. (Apologies for the Vikings reference).

Now, it’s time for some sobering statistics. For those with queasy baseball stomachs, look away.

Alexi Casilla: The Last Days

Let me just begin by saying that I have always been all for giving Alexi Casilla as many chances as possible to prove himself to be a regular middle infielder for the Twins.  I love the kid and the excitement he brings out in the field and on the basepaths.  In the next week or two, however, we will find out if this is the end of Alexi Casilla in a Twins uniform.  This would be somewhat disappointing to me - up until the last week or two, when I think of Alexi Casilla I think of diving stops and game-winning hits in Game 163.  The start of this season, both offensively and defensively, has been unbearable for Casilla.  Tsuyoshi Nishioka is on his way back here in the next few weeks, and with Trevor Plouffe getting his shot, this could be a life-changing time for Alexi Casilla.  As I write this, I see Luke Hughes is in the lineup today playing second base as Casilla gets the day off.

The Youth Movement

In the starting lineup tonight will be 2 guys making their 2011 debut.  Both Trevor Plouffe and Ben Revere spent a little time with the club last year, and they are back for round 2.  With the slow start the Twins are off to and the slump that everyone (except Kubel and Span) is in, these moves are a positive change in my opinion.  Today Gardenhire said that Plouffe will be the starting shortstop moving forward, and I would expect Revere to get regular playing time until Delmon Young comes back.

The Royal Wedding

Well, it's been a rough couple of days for the Twins.  6 game losing streaks are never fun; however, we were fortunate enough here in the Twins Rubes family to not have to pay attention to this last week of blowouts the Twins endured.  That is mainly because we were immersed by the royal wedding.  No, not the one that happened between that one famous prince guy and his wife, and no I'm not trying to make up some pun about the Royals getting married to the 2011 AL Central crown after the weekend sweep.  I'm talking about one of our own "baakre" who got married this weekend!  We at Twins Rubes do sincerely apologize to all the single females out there who were holding out hope.  So, please take 30 seconds of your time and pass on a quick congratulations in the comment section, and then give me one reason why you are holding out hope that our Twins will turn this thing around and get back to the playoffs and even further this year!

Sweeeeeeep!!

The Twins have made up 3 games since Thursday in the American League Central due to the rain-shortened 2 game sweep over the division leading Indians.  I know it's a long season and a 3 game winning streak may not completely turn the year around, but what an encouraging weekend it was for our beloved Twins.  We saw some great things from the team, though, over this 3 game winning streak that will hopefully signal many more victories to come.  Here's what jumped out at me this Easter weekend...

The First Tenth

Well, there are only 146 games left in the season, and I feel like the Twins have given away that first 10%.  We'll call it their baseball tithe.  Only with a tithe, we expect the blessing to overflow once we have given that first 10%.  So, rather than dwell on the 6-10 record, last place in the Central, the .235 batting average, the 5 total home runs, and so on; let's think about what's to come.  After all, we're on a 2 game winning streak!

Mauer to the DL

Mauer is out with "bilateral leg weakness" until May...wait, bilateral leg weakness???  That sounds like it's time to change positions.  This is crazy how much of a beating and physical toll playing catcher is taking on Mr. Mauer.

I don't know where to put him, but I would be ok with never seeing him behind the plate ever again.  With the abundance we have of RF/DH's, I don't know that there is a way we can put him out there.  Obviously, we can't take Morneau out of the lineup and put him at 1st.  Can he pitch?  If he plays 3rd, that leaves Valencia as the odd man out.  Maybe Valencia can play short or 2nd.  I don't know that there is a solution without taking a solid bat out of the lineup, but these stints on the DL are getting very frustrating!  Sore legs should not be an issue, as I think Mauer is the first player to ever go on the DL for that kind of injury.  Is this like the "tired arm" injury that Blackburn was suffering from last year?

I need some ideas here.  Where can we put our favorite catcher so he doesn't end up out for 2 weeks with tired legs ever again?  Luckily, Nishioka and Mauer will be coming back around the same time now to make our annual second-half run to the Central Division title and leave Ozzie Guillen as confused as ever.

We're going to be ok... right?

• We're 4-7.


• We've looked punchless at the plate, especially in the early innings.


• We're inconsistent at best on the mound (rotation and bullpen included).

Is there any positivity right now? Of course there is! We're Twins Rubes! Go back 20 years ago... Remember 1991? I know, I know, that was 20 years ago. But you know what? When your looking for positivity for our Favorite 9, sometimes you just have to remember the good times. And 1991, that was a pretty good time. I know it's tough to sit back and watch us lose series to Toronto, New York, and Oakland, and split a 2-gamer with the Royals at home. But hey, let's find some positivity already! April 14, 1991. The Twins are at 2-4, only ahead of the winless Mariners and the 1-win Rangers. Fast forward 20 years to the day, April 14, 2011, we're 4-7, ahead of only the underachieving Red Sox, the punchless (and winless at home) Rays, and the Mariners. I'm not going to sit here and break down day-by-day statistics and say that we are on pace to win the World Series like '91 (although my track record shows that it wouldn't surprise anyone if I did that. WE COMIN!), but I will say that the Twins will be just fine! There are a group of veterans on this team that you can trust will turn things around - Mauer, Morneau, Cuddyer, Kubel, Pavano, Span, etc. These guys are proven MLB players. We're not talking about hype, we're talking about proven division champions at the highest level. Let's sit back, enjoy a couple 13-14 brats, and enjoy a long summer of baseball. Marathon not sprint. Marathon not sprint. Marathon not sprint... A good series in Tampa against a struggling Rays team will make things feel a lot better in Loserville U.S.A. A rough weekend in Tampa? I'll be back... (Marathon not sprint. Marathon not sprint. Marathon not sprint...) Go Twins!

Speaking of more of the same...

This just in.......

Jesse Crain gives up a gopher ball in the 10th versus light-hitting Oakland. Rumor has it that Ozzie Guillen uttered words in Spanish that can't be repeated in English.

I love it when the Sox lose a heartbreaker!

Twins Struggles Continue

Another loss to the punchless A's. Actually, the A's are the ones making the Twins look punchless.

There has been a real disturbing trend from the Twins so far in this young season:
1. Pitchers are giving up 4 walks per game and have issued 5 wild pitches.
2. The Twins have committed 7 errors with a few other plays sprinkled in which have not counted as errors, but have hurt the team nonetheless.
3. The Twins are batting .214 right now and are on pace to hit about 54 home runs.

Trailer - MLB 11: THE SHOW Yankee Killer Trailer for PS2, PS3 and PSP

No, this is not a plug for MLB 11: The SHOW... (but you got to admit, that looks really sweet!) This is a preview of what is to come. Tonight, tomorrow night, Wednesday... heck, maybe even Thursday! The fact of the matter is, my Twins Rube-ness is extremely high today as we go to that ballpark in New York and try to win a couple games.

Stuck in Neutral

Uninspired. Lethargic. Frustrating. Those are the words I would use to describe the Twins first two games.

The first two games of the 2011 season have been something to forget. Actually, their performance thus far reminds me of their postseason performances in recent years: starting pitching that can't get out of the 5th inning and can't keep the ball in the park, fielding that has been shaky, and silent bats. Apparently the Twins forgot to bring bats to Toronto altogether.

Tomorrow is a new day, and it is only game 3 of the season, but this Twins fan is looking forward to the Twins playing a competitive game. After all, it can only get better from here.

2011: High Expectations

We are finally only one day away from my boy Denard stepping into the box to get this season started.  Naturally, it's becoming harder and harder to concentrate on anything but Opening Day as it gets closer.  So, let's take a look at each position and let "hope spring eternal" as I lay down my expectations this season for each position/player.

Here Comes the AL East

I don't know who had it out for the Twins this year, but their schedule to start the season is brutal. 15 of the first 20 games are on the ROAD against the AL EAST. Ouch! The last couple of years have not been good for the Twins in games versus the AL East. You have to go back to 2006 for the last time the Twins had a winning record against those five teams. Here's a rundown on how the Twins have fared against that division in recent history.

Get to Know Em!!

Since this December 17, 2010 I began studying my Japanese in preparation of welcoming our newest 2nd baseman to Twins Territory! And so when I found this video, my Japanese was put to the test. In order to successfully translate his strong Japanese accent, I decided to use the given English translation that Youtube so generously provided. Thank you Youtube.

Infield Depth: Where is it?

We are less than a week away from Opening Day 2011, and as a baseball fan, these are the best days of the year.  I love it because every fan thinks their team has a shot, and everyone predicts how the season is going to turn out.  The great thing about baseball is that nothing ever happens as predicted.  Who would have thought that the Giants would be World Series champions a year ago today (other than Giants fans, of course).  Who would have thought that the Red Sox would have all those injuries and they would be completely out of the playoff picture?  As Opening Day approaches this season, I am excited as ever to see what kind of ride the Twins are going to take me on this year.  However, for the first time in years I have some major concerns the closer we get.  So I ask: What happens if Casilla or Nishioka struggle or get hurt?

Love the Small Ball

After the win last night against the Orioles, Gardy was quoted as saying "I told him (Nishioka), rather than sacrifice in those situations, I'd like to see him bunt for a base hit."  As I was listening to the game last night on my way to play pick-up basketball (I'm trying to revive my NBA dreams, naturally), I remember thinking to myself: "We are going to score in the first inning of every game that Denard Span gets on base to lead off the game!"

Introducing the All-Time Minnesota Twins

Opening Day for the Twins is just 9 days away. However, with all the snow being dumped across the northern plains this week, spring just doesn’t seem that close. That doesn’t mean that Target Field isn’t ready for the defense of the AL Central to begin. Every summer, I find great enjoyment over watching the Twins toy with the rest of the division until the All-Star break only to go on a run the leaves everyone else in the dust. Most importantly, I love it when the Twins beat the White Sox! Thank you, Jim Thome, for coming over to the good side!

Remembering the Baseball Card Stats

There was a time in my life when I would tag along with my mom on the weekly grocery store run.  The only reason I can think of that I didn’t throw a complete tantrum (other than the fact that I respected my parents, of course) is that I knew there was a good to great chance I would be leaving the store with a $0.50 pack of Topps baseball cards in my hands.  Obviously, the first thing I had to do was throw the rock-hard piece of old bubble gum out in the trash as we left.  Looking back, that was the definition of “living the dream.”  My brothers and I spent hours and hours collecting, examining, and playing with every baseball card we collected – which I can now say was way too many cards than I should have ever made my mom buy for me.  Sorry mom.

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2003 Prospects: Wha', wha', wha' happened?

A friend of mine recently brought over the February 2003 issue of Beckett, and who was on the cover?  None other than our starting catcher Joe Mauer.  Inside I found a list of 500 of the top prospects at that time and their profiles.  13 of these profiles belonged to our beloved Twins, so I decided to do a little investigation into what exactly happened to these 13 particular prospects.

Delmon Young - only just begun?

The countdown to Opening Night for the Twins is now 10 days and the expectations for the 2011 season are as high as ever. Visions of healthy M & M boys, flashes of 2006 again in Fransisco Liriano (we Twins Rubes like to call him "Franchise Liriano") along with a veteran core returning to the rotation, and revamped lineup featuring both speed and power have Twins Territory looking forward to another AL Central title banner to be hung in Target Field. But have we forgotten about arguably the biggest breakthrough from 2010?

Slowey to the Pen

Word this morning from Twins camp is that Kevin Slowey will start out the season in the bullpen, which means the starting rotation will consist of Pavano, Liriano, Blackburn, Duensing, and Baker.  This is the logical choice for Rick Anderson and the pitching staff.  I am a firm believer that trading Slowey would not be the wisest decision, mainly because at some point during a 162 game season we will need a 6th starter.  It's a very good possibility that our starting rotation may even need to go beyond 6, at which point I am as excited as anyone to see Kyle Gibson make his debut at Target Field.

Twins Rubes

Welcome to Twins Rubes!  My brothers and I decided that in order to let our passion for the home team out of our systems on a regular basis, it would be fun to start writing about our feelings, emotions, and love of the Minnesota Twins.  One unique aspect of our viewpoint will be the none of us have cable, and therefore rely on John Gordon and Danny Gladden to paint the picture of each game in our minds.  We are by no means experts, but rather die-hard Twins fans that spend endless summer nights biting our finger nails over the ups and downs that come with Twins Baseball!

We surely appreciate every one who joins us and interacts with us through this blog; and we will do our best to give you that positive, rube-like, viewpoint of the team we all love!