Running On Empty, But Running

The four most productive veterans in the lineup – Joe Mauer, Trevor Plouffe, Torii Hunter and Brian Dozier – look like the walking wounded. None has been put on the DL all year, but if you doubt their status, consider: NONE of them have a higher OPS since the All-Star Break than Shane Robinson. Shane. Robinson.

Aaron Hicks has had two stints on the DL. Miguel Sano looks like he needs a walker to get around the bases. Several guys in the bullpen are on the verge of being overused, and that’s not counting Brian Duensing and Casey Fien who haven’t looked right all year.

I’ll ask again: how the hell is this Minnesota Twins team still competing?

The answer is both pleasant and encouraging: the youngsters have been carrying this team. In the rotation, 27-year-old Kyle Gibson leads the team in innings with a respectable 3.87 ERA. 28-year-old Tommy Milone came back from a short stay in Rochester and is now posting a higher strikeout rate and lower walk rate than at any time in his career. He’s contributed a 3.54 ERA over 19 starts. And 24-year-old Tyler Duffey has been perhaps the Twins best pitcher down the stretch, posting 2.67 ERA in the five starts since his recall.

Everyone knows the impact that 22-year-old Sano has had on the offense, but he’s not alone. 25-year-old Hicks carried this team for a month and looks like he’s having his breakthrough year. Ditto 26-year-old shortstop Eduardo Escobar, who is only behind Sano and Dozier in OPS on the team. And while Eddie Rosario’s strikeout/walk ratio continues to scare me, he’s continued to hit, providing a potent left-handed bat.

The baseball season is a marathon, not a sprint, the cliché goes. A number of the veterans look like they’re entering Mile 26. This team may be running on fumes right now, but it’s still running, fueled by some younger, fresher legs.