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!