If the honeymoon period of Target Field wasn't officially over before this season began, it's officially over now. I have been to 3 Twins games in the past few weeks on extremely perfect days and there seem to be almost as many empty seats as filled seats. I even got lower level seats for what was suppose to be a Hughes vs Darvish matchup for just 9 dollars a piece. This team, wait, this organization needs to get their crap figured out fast before we see the days similar to the mid 90s Twins. Nobody showing up, nobody really caring what's going on with the team, etc. The Twins have no one to blame but themselves.
The way they have handled this roster this season has been a complete joke. Let's keep sending out guys like Hicks who obviously need AAA seasoning. Let's keep sending out guys like Kubel and Willingham who have nothing left in the tank. Keep parading infielders like Santana, Escobar, and Nunez in the outfield where they have never played before. While this is going on you've got two pieces who could be big parts in the turn around of this franchise just riding the pine on a consistent basis in Arcia and Pinto.
Arcia has been getting more at bats recently and looks like his wrist may finally be healed with a homer and a couple of doubles the past two games. He needs to play everyday barring injury in right field for the rest of the season. Pinto continues to not get at bats due to the fact that they don't want to DH him because if Suzuki gets hurt they will have to have the pitcher hit is ridiculous. Pinto has 7 homeruns already in limited at bats and like Arcia has the potential to be a middle of the order power bat and needs to get at bats to reach this potential. When he just rides the pine, he's not getting the at bats he needs to grow into what he could possibly be.
You can also look at the way they are handling the pitching staff as well. Correia needs to be moved to the bullpen or moved out of town entirely and the Twins need to bring up one of our big arm prospects in either May or Meyer to take that spot. Then you also have guys like Guerrier and Burton in the bullpen who have nothing left but are "Gardy guys" instead of some young arms like Tonkin or Achter.
The way this roster has been handled this year is the worst yet, since opening Target Field in 2010. Even though this team is floating around 500 as of now thanks to the great play of 2nd basemen Brian Dozier, great pitching efforts of Hughes and the bullpen, if they keep this up it's just a matter of time before they slide horribly and lose 90 games again.
All we really have to look forward to as of now is the All-Star game and if we're lucky we'll have 2 players representing the Twins. Our one representative will probably be Perkins, with Dozier and Hughes as outside chances to represent us as well.
While lots of fans want to get on Mauer for his struggles this season, and boy has he struggled, there are many more issues that are causing this team to slide in the standings and in attendance. Mauer does need to pick it up and maybe his back is bothering him way more than he is leading on, but realize that unless the Twins get this whole roster mess out, it won't matter how much Mauer struggles, this team will lose 90 games again.
Written by Nick Calo, follow me on Twitter for more updates and sports thoughts @PRH1987
The way they have handled this roster this season has been a complete joke. Let's keep sending out guys like Hicks who obviously need AAA seasoning. Let's keep sending out guys like Kubel and Willingham who have nothing left in the tank. Keep parading infielders like Santana, Escobar, and Nunez in the outfield where they have never played before. While this is going on you've got two pieces who could be big parts in the turn around of this franchise just riding the pine on a consistent basis in Arcia and Pinto.
Arcia has been getting more at bats recently and looks like his wrist may finally be healed with a homer and a couple of doubles the past two games. He needs to play everyday barring injury in right field for the rest of the season. Pinto continues to not get at bats due to the fact that they don't want to DH him because if Suzuki gets hurt they will have to have the pitcher hit is ridiculous. Pinto has 7 homeruns already in limited at bats and like Arcia has the potential to be a middle of the order power bat and needs to get at bats to reach this potential. When he just rides the pine, he's not getting the at bats he needs to grow into what he could possibly be.
You can also look at the way they are handling the pitching staff as well. Correia needs to be moved to the bullpen or moved out of town entirely and the Twins need to bring up one of our big arm prospects in either May or Meyer to take that spot. Then you also have guys like Guerrier and Burton in the bullpen who have nothing left but are "Gardy guys" instead of some young arms like Tonkin or Achter.
The way this roster has been handled this year is the worst yet, since opening Target Field in 2010. Even though this team is floating around 500 as of now thanks to the great play of 2nd basemen Brian Dozier, great pitching efforts of Hughes and the bullpen, if they keep this up it's just a matter of time before they slide horribly and lose 90 games again.
All we really have to look forward to as of now is the All-Star game and if we're lucky we'll have 2 players representing the Twins. Our one representative will probably be Perkins, with Dozier and Hughes as outside chances to represent us as well.
While lots of fans want to get on Mauer for his struggles this season, and boy has he struggled, there are many more issues that are causing this team to slide in the standings and in attendance. Mauer does need to pick it up and maybe his back is bothering him way more than he is leading on, but realize that unless the Twins get this whole roster mess out, it won't matter how much Mauer struggles, this team will lose 90 games again.
Written by Nick Calo, follow me on Twitter for more updates and sports thoughts @PRH1987