As the second week of the 2013 season comes to a snowy end and yes I did say snowy end as the finally game between the Twins and Mets was postponed due to nasty winter weather. Could this be a blessing in disguise for the Twins.
The season started out pretty well for the Twins as they took two of three from the Tigers and then traveled out to Baltimore and took two of the three from the Orioles. After the first week of the season the Twins sat atop of the America League Central with a record of 4-2 and looking to maybe be the surprise team of the season so far... Then BOOM the Twins took off for a three game set against the Royals and that is where the season took a major step backwards, as the Twins would go into Kansas City and get swept by the Royals. The Twins really were not in any of the final 2 games against the Royals. In the second game of the series Mike Pelfrey made his second start of the season and it didn't go as planned or look as good as his first start of the season. Pelfrey got pelted in the 1st inning, allowing the first 5 Royals to get hits and before you knew it the Twins were down 5-1. The Twins would never get closer then being down by three runs in that game. The final game of the series the Twins looked like they just wanted to get home, as they were shut out and lost 3-0.
The Twins came home to cold bitter weather with a record of 4-5 only one game below .500 and starting a series with the New York Mets. This looked like maybe the Twins could come into this series and take two of three from the Mets or maybe even sweep the Mets and everything would be okay for this Twins team early on. Well that wasn't the case at all to be honest with you. The Mets came in town and pretty mcuh put a whipping on the Twins. For the first game the New York Mets looked more like the 1927 Yankees, as the Mets would just beat the living snot out of Vance Worley in the 1st inning of the game. The first four batters would reach base and before most of the fans could grab their first cup of hot chocolate the Twins were down 2-0 and before the next cup of hot chocolate they were down 5-0. Vance Worley only lasted for 14 batters and he left to the tune of a 6-2 Met lead. The game really got ugly after the first guy Hernandez pitched to, as John Buck welcomed him to the game in a rude matter as he launched a grand slam into the 2nd deck in left field, the Mets were up 10-2 early on and never seem to let up.... The final score was 16-5 and it didn't even feel that close to be honest.. On Saturday the Twins ran into a buzz saw named Matt Harvey as he took a no hitter into the 7th inning with plenty of strike outs to spare. The first hit and run came off the bat of Justin Morneau as he connected for his 1st homerun of the season. The Twins would score again in the 9th inning but lost 4-2.
The second week of the season for the Twins looked way to similar to many weeks and days of last season. The Twins starters only lasting three or four innings maybe five(Diamond on Saturday). The Twins offense really is struggling and the guy struggling the most is Aaron Hicks who has 20 strikeouts in only 43 at bats and only has 3 hits this season, which leaves his batting average at .047, he has just struggled PERIOD. Here is another stat to tell you that the Twins are struggling, they don't have an everyday player hitting over .300 yet, the only player hitting over .300 is utility man Eduardo Escobar who is hitting .400 with 5 RBI'S. As far as pitching goes well let's just say WE TOLD you! the starting five have only one of the 4 wins for the Twins this season. So far the second time through the rotation hasn't been pretty at all. It only goes to show that Terry Ryan should of spend a bit more money on pitching this off season. This rotation will not last long in my option in the American League.. Once again we have a rotation that is pitch to contact and well as of right now not many bats are missing the balls, and our defense isn't help at all... not making the easy plays at all... the Left side of the infield is kind of like a piece of swiss cheese right now, it has a lot of holes in it, Plouffe and Florimon are making it tough for the pitchers as they have missed making the routine plays so far this season.
If the Twins want to try and make it back to .500 and try and stay close to the .500 mark they will need to figure out some stuff and figure it out quickly before it's to late and were already in June or July.
Here are a few things the Twins can do to maybe try and climb back and stay around the .500 mark....
1. Send Aaron Hicks down to AAA, let him get some seasoning at the AAA level. That will help him so much, right now he is just over matched on every level in the Majors.
2. Let Eduardo Escobar get more at bats and try and steal a spot on the left side of the infield. This kid can play and he is smooth with the glove and has more of a bat then Florimon does.
3. Find a lead off man - If Hicks does get send down the Twins will need to find a lead off hitter.. Who could bat lead off.. well I'm sure it's not how Gardy would like to do it.. but that Mauer guy could do it for awhile.. gets on base and takes a lot of pitches.. but then who hits 2????
4. Kyle Gibson needs to prove he is ready to pitch in the major leagues and then come to Minnesota and enter the rotation. Be a solid 3 or 4 guy for the rest of this season. The maybe be the 1 or 2 next season.
5. Oswaldo Arcia is knocking on the door very LOUDLY... if he keeps knocking what will the Twins do. He is only 22 but if he keeps it up in AAA, the Twins just might have to up his Major league debut
those are my 5 things the Twins need to do.. to make it back around and maybe over the .500 mark..
The season started out pretty well for the Twins as they took two of three from the Tigers and then traveled out to Baltimore and took two of the three from the Orioles. After the first week of the season the Twins sat atop of the America League Central with a record of 4-2 and looking to maybe be the surprise team of the season so far... Then BOOM the Twins took off for a three game set against the Royals and that is where the season took a major step backwards, as the Twins would go into Kansas City and get swept by the Royals. The Twins really were not in any of the final 2 games against the Royals. In the second game of the series Mike Pelfrey made his second start of the season and it didn't go as planned or look as good as his first start of the season. Pelfrey got pelted in the 1st inning, allowing the first 5 Royals to get hits and before you knew it the Twins were down 5-1. The Twins would never get closer then being down by three runs in that game. The final game of the series the Twins looked like they just wanted to get home, as they were shut out and lost 3-0.
The Twins came home to cold bitter weather with a record of 4-5 only one game below .500 and starting a series with the New York Mets. This looked like maybe the Twins could come into this series and take two of three from the Mets or maybe even sweep the Mets and everything would be okay for this Twins team early on. Well that wasn't the case at all to be honest with you. The Mets came in town and pretty mcuh put a whipping on the Twins. For the first game the New York Mets looked more like the 1927 Yankees, as the Mets would just beat the living snot out of Vance Worley in the 1st inning of the game. The first four batters would reach base and before most of the fans could grab their first cup of hot chocolate the Twins were down 2-0 and before the next cup of hot chocolate they were down 5-0. Vance Worley only lasted for 14 batters and he left to the tune of a 6-2 Met lead. The game really got ugly after the first guy Hernandez pitched to, as John Buck welcomed him to the game in a rude matter as he launched a grand slam into the 2nd deck in left field, the Mets were up 10-2 early on and never seem to let up.... The final score was 16-5 and it didn't even feel that close to be honest.. On Saturday the Twins ran into a buzz saw named Matt Harvey as he took a no hitter into the 7th inning with plenty of strike outs to spare. The first hit and run came off the bat of Justin Morneau as he connected for his 1st homerun of the season. The Twins would score again in the 9th inning but lost 4-2.
The second week of the season for the Twins looked way to similar to many weeks and days of last season. The Twins starters only lasting three or four innings maybe five(Diamond on Saturday). The Twins offense really is struggling and the guy struggling the most is Aaron Hicks who has 20 strikeouts in only 43 at bats and only has 3 hits this season, which leaves his batting average at .047, he has just struggled PERIOD. Here is another stat to tell you that the Twins are struggling, they don't have an everyday player hitting over .300 yet, the only player hitting over .300 is utility man Eduardo Escobar who is hitting .400 with 5 RBI'S. As far as pitching goes well let's just say WE TOLD you! the starting five have only one of the 4 wins for the Twins this season. So far the second time through the rotation hasn't been pretty at all. It only goes to show that Terry Ryan should of spend a bit more money on pitching this off season. This rotation will not last long in my option in the American League.. Once again we have a rotation that is pitch to contact and well as of right now not many bats are missing the balls, and our defense isn't help at all... not making the easy plays at all... the Left side of the infield is kind of like a piece of swiss cheese right now, it has a lot of holes in it, Plouffe and Florimon are making it tough for the pitchers as they have missed making the routine plays so far this season.
If the Twins want to try and make it back to .500 and try and stay close to the .500 mark they will need to figure out some stuff and figure it out quickly before it's to late and were already in June or July.
Here are a few things the Twins can do to maybe try and climb back and stay around the .500 mark....
1. Send Aaron Hicks down to AAA, let him get some seasoning at the AAA level. That will help him so much, right now he is just over matched on every level in the Majors.
2. Let Eduardo Escobar get more at bats and try and steal a spot on the left side of the infield. This kid can play and he is smooth with the glove and has more of a bat then Florimon does.
3. Find a lead off man - If Hicks does get send down the Twins will need to find a lead off hitter.. Who could bat lead off.. well I'm sure it's not how Gardy would like to do it.. but that Mauer guy could do it for awhile.. gets on base and takes a lot of pitches.. but then who hits 2????
4. Kyle Gibson needs to prove he is ready to pitch in the major leagues and then come to Minnesota and enter the rotation. Be a solid 3 or 4 guy for the rest of this season. The maybe be the 1 or 2 next season.
5. Oswaldo Arcia is knocking on the door very LOUDLY... if he keeps knocking what will the Twins do. He is only 22 but if he keeps it up in AAA, the Twins just might have to up his Major league debut
those are my 5 things the Twins need to do.. to make it back around and maybe over the .500 mark..