Taking your foot off the gas

[Boom Boom]

We've seen a pattern from the Twins offense in the last couple weeks... score quick and early, and then coast through the middle and late innings. It hadn't come around to bite them until last night.

 

Some of this has to do with opposing pitchers finding a groove. Brunansky said something recently about hitters changing their approach from what was already working (pardon the lack of a link, go dig it up yourself if you want). From what I can see, and certainly against Buehrle last night, the Twins hitters looked far too anxious to swing often and early which wound up playing into Buehrle's hands.

 

I'm sure there's a bit of fluke to all of this and the trend won't continue to the degree it has, but I think this could be a sign that the Twins offense just isn't as good as it has shown. So how concerned are you?

[Brock Beauchamp]

I'm concerned that the offense isn't very good and doesn't have much room for improvement without some combination of Arcia, Vargas, and Pinto being added to the roster. I don't really care which innings they score runs, though it has turned into some nice wins recently.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Having Vargas available to DH as a righty last night might have made a difference.

[Cap'n Piranha]

I completely agree with the lack of patience angle. It is unfathomable to me that a guy could throw 44 pitches through 2 innings, and somehow still complete 9.

 

Part of me wonders if the Twins just have a great feel for the pitcher when the game starts, but are completely lost when he makes an adjustment, and can't readjust.

[drock2190]

Need some home run smashers in this lineup. 

 

 

[twinsnorth49]

Completely agree with the lack of patience last night, didn't quite understand it. Plouffe's first two at bats consisted of two swings and two quick weak pop flies, one in foul territory. Also agree they need one of Arcia or Vargas to be that big bat presence and punish mistakes. 

[Halsey Hall]

The strings of zero's the Twins have been putting on the board lately is a big concern of mine, and I've mentioned it before.  Seems they come out with a good game plan but fail to adjust as the game goes on.  Kind of reminds me of Denny Green, who couldn't make half-time adjustments til the game was finished.  Somehow they've managed to win 4 or 5 games they probably shouldn't have.  And we all knew Perkins wasn't going to be perfect all year.

 

It has to also put some pressure on the starters, thinking this is what I've got to work with, and I've got to be really fine the rest of the way to hold it. 

 

We've got to start getting bunches of hits to score some runs after the 3rd inning, or it will still be another long year, just not as long as the last few. 

[JB_Iowa]

This is what I like about this team -- there are a number of indentifiable areas where they can improve.

 

Game-by-game; play-by-play.

[Linus]

Um...they are 10 games over 500. Perhaps you should worry less and enjoy more.

[curt1965]

I'm hoping when June 1 rolls around, there will be some changes. One of my favorite guys, Oswaldo Arcia, apparently is not the answer for awhile. He hasn't gotten a hit since he was sent down!

Again, I hope the FO addresses some of these areas BEFORE our guys have lose 5-6 in a row and are in a tailspin. Proactive is the word of the day.......

[diehardtwinsfan]

I think they need to get a real DH.  Several guys in AAA right now qualify, all of whom have had some success in the minors.  I'd probably bring Vargas up and send Santana down with Escobar playing SS for the time being. 

[USAFChief]

How about Vargas up and back to a 7 man bullpen?

[Minniman]

 

Um...they are 10 games over 500. Perhaps you should worry less and enjoy more.

 

Is this a 91 game winning lineup?

 

If not, expect regression toward the mean.

 

[Platoon]

A team that bats a Suzuki, or Escobar, or Nunez in the 5 hole is really not built to score even as many runs as they currently do. None of the background numbers suggest a high octane offense. Relying on Hermann to supply your power is not a sustainable solution.

[DaveW]

Escobar should never get a start in LF or DH. I wonder if the twins would be 11 or 12 games over .500 if they kept up Vargas or has pinto up instead?