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!