Reed and Burdi are both relievers, the Twins need at least one front-line type starter.

The Twins always seem to play on edge nowadays. All season long, even in April and May, we hear about "huge" homestands, "critical" three-game series, losses that are "really frustrating," other losses that are rationalized away... and so on. I don't know if this constant urgency is communicated to the players or not, but if it is, then it's no wonder they burn out in September every year. Obviously this could all be pop psychology, but maybe not. I miss the days of TK and his "not too high, not too low" philosophy for making it through a six month season. Gardenhire and Kelly seem to be extreme opposites at this point.

This is not to say the "win now" approach can't work; as you have said, the Twins led by Gardenhire have been able to win under pressure situations in the past (postseason notwithstanding) but it feels different now. This new urgency to win every night is one thing I think could disappear immediately with the hiring of a different manager with a different style. Let the guys relax and see what happens. Again, maybe just my perception.

I agree, it's embarrassing.  The outfield is a mess (Star Trib pointed that out), mediocrity at 3rd, underwhelming 1st basemen and then the pitching, I don't even want to get started on that.  How can these AAA pitchers come up and stink the joint up that bad.  How can Twins Management promote these guys.  Can they really judge talent.  Now the Astros are 2 games up on Twins. 

It is embarrassing, but unlike Twinssouth, I don't think the embarrassment has much to do with the bats. We've seen what this Twins lineup can do, and it's fun to watch.

The rotation and bullpen... they stink. Gibson is progressing, but he'll need to take another step or two forward, Hughes was great, but will he be again? It's going to be interesting to see what happens this off-season. I really hope the Twins bring in a big name starter, even if it means 24mil/year for 6+ years. The most efficient way to bring in talent is to draft and develop it, but when you need talent NOW, free agency is the way to go. It's hit or miss, but by and large someone who has a proven track record of success will continue to be successful, albeit and a slowly declining rate. Twins probably have to pay for more than they'll get in value, much like they had to with Mauer, but I think it's worth it to make a marked improvement on this team.

I agree, it's embarrassing, and it isn't just the pitching.  If I hear Gardy talk one more time about how the team plays the game the right way, I will smash something expensive.  These teams are not fundamentally sound- they give away runs.  It isn't being inexperienced, it's throwing to the wrong base, not hitting the cutoff man (Arcia, game after game), not being in position to take the throw, etc.  The other day Shafer threw to second base, and no one was there.  The runner, obviously, took second (and then third).

This has to stop.

Gardy pretty much put Schafer's throw on the two veterans, Dozier and Mauer.  Missing cutoff men happens to all teams.  I would agree that Arcia has been guilty more than his share.  It is part of not being fundamentally sound, not the be-all and end-all. 

Gardy pretty much put Schafer's throw on the two veterans, Dozier and Mauer.  Missing cutoff men happens to all teams.  I would agree that Arcia has been guilty more than his share.  It is part of not being fundamentally sound, not the be-all and end-all. 

I completely agree- not Schafer's fault, but the result was the same. And it goes beyond bad throws- bad baserunning is another example.  The team needs better fundamentals.

Arcia did make a really nice throw toward third last night, hitting the cutoff man perfectly and keeping the runner at second.  I haven't given up hope, but you are right- it is embarrassing.

One man's opinion--the baserunning hasn't been that bad.  We have seen some dreadful mistakes, but we often have seen the extra base taken when offered.  I hate to use the cliché, but a guy like Dozier, who displayed very good instincts to go with good speed, may be trying to do too much.  Schafer is going to make some outs on the bases, but he also will take a whole bunch of extra bases via the stolen base and just being aggressive.  Slower guys have to know when to go and I think in large part they have been cautious, but haven't clogged the bases either.