LAA 2, MIN 1: Is This a Rerun?

Man they have to start hitting, or walking, or stealing bases, or doing something to get some runs across the plate. These pitchers are going to go through some cold stretches too, they aren't going to pitch like this all year it's the nature of the game, so they really really need to take advantage of all these good starts they have had.

The FO has done some good things and cannot control the...

Injuries/etc that DO matter (Castro, Mauer, Palanco, Buxton, Sano, Santana....)

They do control what to do about it. 

1. Cycle some of the reliever up to get a break for some of the overused and therefore becoming more ineffective (you know who they are)

2. Bring up some of the young talent for experience and evaluation

This is not rocket surgery or brain science..... but....

the first step is to admit that you have a problem

Boy is that photo a microcosm of the season so far....well chosen

Sano and Morrison should bat lower in the order. Cut LaMarre, Wilson and Adrianza. Call Duffey back up. Promote Astudillo and Gordon. When Polanco comes back, cut Petit. If Garver keeps struggling, demote him and promote Wynston Sawyer. If Cave keeps struggling, Wade can be promoted. I think this is the best solution so far. Rotate Gordon, Escobar and Polanco when Polanco comes back so that Escobar could rest a bit.

Perspective. Kyle Gibson has the best ERA on the starting pitching staff at 3.45. HE HAS ONE WIN! 1) It tells you how little value wins and losses have in this day and age. 2) Can we get the guy some more wins anyway? He's been really good and has nothing to show for it.

Score some runs for this rotation. Even Lynn almost has his ERA under 5. With last years offense at the end of the year, I think they'd be in first and I think it wouldn't even be close. 

I think you can stick a fork in these guys.  I am sure it is not the case but these guys seem heartless.  Chicago plays hard, Detroit plays hard and we just don't.  Kudos to the pitching staff, they have done a nice job the last several weeks.  I expect the arms will tire a little, the bats will wake up a little, but, a little too late.  Move Adrianza and maybe Polanco too and bring up Gordon.  Maybe a little life will enter the squad as we get younger.  

I was working around the house and caught only glimpses of the first few innings. I remember seeing 69(?) pitches at the end of the third. I watched from the 5th inning on. Gibson seemed to have adjusted to a good version of his old self, throwing sinkers and pitching to contact. His last nine outs were on ground balls. The in-game change allowed him to be effective through the 7th. I was impressed.

Too bad the hitters couldn't find a few runs.

Dreadful.

This is how we baseball.

I am beginning to believe the Twins are being punished for coming up with that inane slogan. 

Dreadful.

 

This is how we baseball.

What's the record for one run losses in a season?

I don't know. But one run losses can fluctuate a lot from year to year. It's quite conceivable that we could redo the season up to this point and have several more wins.