The Minnesota Twins are currently in 4th place in the American League Central and are 7.5 games back with a record of 30-36.
The main reason this team is here right now, starting pitching. Even though it has been better as of late the starting staff still has an ERA of over 5 which is downright horrible. They also have given up the most first inning runs of any staff in the majors. Of course your offense is going to struggle when they have to press at the plate because they are behind to begin the game pretty much everyday.
The only starting pitcher with a sub 4 ERA and a minimum of 10 starts is Kevin Correia and his ERA is 3.97 so he barely makes the cut. He has pretty much given the chance to win just about every game he has pitched, which based on the Twins pitching the past few seasons is something fans are willing to settle for.
The Twins could have added another arm similar to Correia or even better last year at the trade deadline for a certain outfielder who was having a career year and now has come crashing down the Earth this season.
Josh Willingham was in the midst of his career year last summer and his value was never higher via trade and the Twins passed on moving him. He is hitting 50 points less this season and slugging a 100 points less as well. He has yet to come close to his 2012 self and I doubt we will ever see that guy again. Terry Ryan claims they didn't want to move him to prove to future free agents that we won't just sign and trade them immediately. Here's why that's the most idiotic thing I've ever heard:
1. The Twins never sign big name free agents and never will. They will always build through the draft and the system and only spend money on the home grown players. So why does it matter if you try to save face?
2. I think free agents will understand that when you have a major hole like we have in pitching that it was done out of necessity, not because we want to sign and trade people just for the hell of it.
3. Had the Twins actually moved him like they should have this year's team could be in much better shape to contend. And it could have opened up more playing time for the up and coming outfielders in the organization. Outfield is by the deepest position in our organization.
Even if the Twins had gotten another Correia type pitcher for Willingham, the Twins would probably be 500 and just 4 or 5 games back and actually still in contention in mid June. Who knows maybe the Twins are 5 games better record wise only putting them 2 back of the Tigers and the talk of baseball.
Who knows, maybe we'll see Willingham get moved this July if he starts to get hot, but just know it won't be for nearly what we could have gotten last summer and it will probably be for a player that may never actually help us at the major league level.
Written by Nick Calo, follow me on Twitter for more updates and sports thoughts @PRH1987
The main reason this team is here right now, starting pitching. Even though it has been better as of late the starting staff still has an ERA of over 5 which is downright horrible. They also have given up the most first inning runs of any staff in the majors. Of course your offense is going to struggle when they have to press at the plate because they are behind to begin the game pretty much everyday.
The only starting pitcher with a sub 4 ERA and a minimum of 10 starts is Kevin Correia and his ERA is 3.97 so he barely makes the cut. He has pretty much given the chance to win just about every game he has pitched, which based on the Twins pitching the past few seasons is something fans are willing to settle for.
The Twins could have added another arm similar to Correia or even better last year at the trade deadline for a certain outfielder who was having a career year and now has come crashing down the Earth this season.
Josh Willingham was in the midst of his career year last summer and his value was never higher via trade and the Twins passed on moving him. He is hitting 50 points less this season and slugging a 100 points less as well. He has yet to come close to his 2012 self and I doubt we will ever see that guy again. Terry Ryan claims they didn't want to move him to prove to future free agents that we won't just sign and trade them immediately. Here's why that's the most idiotic thing I've ever heard:
1. The Twins never sign big name free agents and never will. They will always build through the draft and the system and only spend money on the home grown players. So why does it matter if you try to save face?
2. I think free agents will understand that when you have a major hole like we have in pitching that it was done out of necessity, not because we want to sign and trade people just for the hell of it.
3. Had the Twins actually moved him like they should have this year's team could be in much better shape to contend. And it could have opened up more playing time for the up and coming outfielders in the organization. Outfield is by the deepest position in our organization.
Even if the Twins had gotten another Correia type pitcher for Willingham, the Twins would probably be 500 and just 4 or 5 games back and actually still in contention in mid June. Who knows maybe the Twins are 5 games better record wise only putting them 2 back of the Tigers and the talk of baseball.
Who knows, maybe we'll see Willingham get moved this July if he starts to get hot, but just know it won't be for nearly what we could have gotten last summer and it will probably be for a player that may never actually help us at the major league level.
Written by Nick Calo, follow me on Twitter for more updates and sports thoughts @PRH1987