1/3 of way thru season

[greengoblinrulz]

25-29 record which plays out to a 75-87 finish. Better than I thought was possible, esp 10 days ago.

Optimist says they've won 7 of last 9

Pessimist says they've lost 12 of last 19

It evens out

 

Only Mauer over .800 in OPS

Only 2 guys (M&M boys) w/BAve over .256

Mauer on pace for career high in HRs (if ya exclude his abomitnation yr) & to score 100runs for first time

 

Closer leads team in K's by 4

Fien on pace for 81 games /Burton & Duensing for 78

Only Correia on pace for over 180IPs

[gunnarthor]

My prediction at the beginning of the year was that they'd be surpisingly competitve to about the break (I think I suggested 38-42) but Ryan would make some trades (Morneau, Willingham maybe Perkins) and they'd have a terrible second half. 38-42 might be overly optimistic but May was going to be a tough month.

 

Regardless, they are more fun to watch this year and Hicks and eventually Arcia and Gibson give us something to look forward to.

[diehardtwinsfan]

They beat up on crappy teams and get destroyed by good ones... It means they won't pick in the top 5 next season. I kind of waffle on that. I'd rather be a feast/famine team. They have a nice core coming up, but it sure would be nice if they had a shot at another college ace type guy in 2014...

[jokin]

My prediction at the beginning of the year was that they'd be surpisingly competitve to about the break (I think I suggested 38-42) but Ryan would make some trades (Morneau, Willingham maybe Perkins) and they'd have a terrible second half. 38-42 might be overly optimistic but May was going to be a tough month.

 

Regardless, they are more fun to watch this year and Hicks and eventually Arcia and Gibson give us something to look forward to.

 

They beat up on crappy teams and get destroyed by good ones... It means they won't pick in the top 5 next season. I kind of waffle on that. I'd rather be a feast/famine team. They have a nice core coming up, but it sure would be nice if they had a shot at another college ace type guy in 2014...

 

Nailed it. The Twins are back to their old habits.

 

They are 13-20 against teams with a winning record for a W-L % of .394.

They are 12-9 against teams with a losing record yielding a W-L% of .571.

 

Going into the break, they play 20 games with teams with winning records, including 7 with the Yankees. They play 18 games with teams with losing records, including 7 with KC.

 

Going by the current results, that works out to 43-49 at the All Star break- that seems optimistic to me. You both still might get your wishes, but the bullpen likely will wilt under the summer heat and all the innings pitched, it seems like a repeat of last year's unsustainability. It's time for the rookie phenoms & call-ups and the assorted current and 4-A fringe guys to step up, the salary dump is right around the corner.

[Danchat]

I'm waiting for the annual big injury-i.e. Diamond gets TJ, Mauer has a mystifying injury, Morneau gets another concussion... then we'll lose some more. I still expect us to be bad. We just look good when we face the White Sox and Mariners.

[greengoblinrulz]

I'm waiting for the annual big injury-i.e. Diamond gets TJ, Mauer has a mystifying injury, Morneau gets another concussion... then we'll lose some more. I still expect us to be bad. We just look good when we face the White Sox and Mariners.

dont think losing Walters/Deduno/Pelfrey to injury is gonna get us worse.....what Im hoping for to improve!!!

[mcrow]

After this winning strectch they are on pace for what I thought would be acceptible this year, ~74 wins. IMO, that shows some improvement but still discouraged by what we are seeing out of our younger players. I was thinking the improvement would come from the young players but so far, not so much.

[whydidnt]

It's encouraging that they are at least competitive against lousy teams this year. That is at least an improvement. I had low expectations for the pitching this year, and they've lived up to my expectations. What's been surprising is how mediocre the hitting has been. I expected more out of the lineup, so to be on pace for 70+ wins is probably better than we deserve at this point.

[Riverbrian]

I hate being optimistic but my blood type is B Positive so I can't help it.

 

If we are 4.5 games out with Sub Par starting pitching from 3/5ths of our rotation and below expected(personal average) performances from Willingham, Plouffe, Morneau, Parmelee and Doumit thus far.

 

We could surprise... if all get to doing what they are expected to do.

[gunnarthor]

I hate being optimistic but my blood type is B Positive so I can't help it.

 

If we are 4.5 games out with Sub Par starting pitching from 3/5ths of our rotation and below expected(personal average) performances from Willingham, Plouffe, Morneau, Parmelee and Doumit thus far.

 

We could surprise... if all get to doing what they are expected to do.

 

That is optimistic but I don't think, except for Gibson, there is much starting pitching help coming this year. I think the team still needs a bit more talent infusion, either in the draft or trades, before they can jump up. But I think Ryan is going in the right direction. And hopefully Morneau and Willingham start hitting again.