Instincts say the Twins are lacking something that's becoming a killer

Editor's note to former Vikings coach Jerry Burns: Please don't read this. We are fond of you and do not want you to blow a gasket this morning.

Decades ago, a local sportswriter accused the Minnesota Vikings of lacking a certain quality known in sports as "killer instinct." Jerry Burns, then the Vikings' head coach, heard the phrase and began ranting like a combination of Burgess Meredith, Bobcat Goldthwait and Howard Beale from the movie "Network".

Burns had the right to rant. His teams didn't lack killer instinct. They lacked talent at quarterback and running back, as well as a code of conduct.

With apologies to Burnsie's memory and Ron Gardenhire's blood pressure, it is time to suggest that the 2010 Twins lack ... a killer instinct.

Sunday, the Twins lost to the woeful Brewers 4-3. Trevor Plouffe's strikeout with the bases loaded in the ninth inning did not cost the Twins this game. What cost the Twins this game was lousy at-bats earlier in the game against the Brewers' pitching potpourri.

While a single loss rarely means much in baseball, in this case the Twins blew a chance at what should have been an easy victory. They lost to Marco Estrada, a pitcher working under emergency circumstances because the scheduled starter, Manny Parra, had to pitch in relief in Saturday's 12-inning game. They also lost to Parra, who came on in the fourth inning; and Zach Braddock, who was making his major league debut; and Trevor Hoffman, who carried an ERA of 13.15 into the game.

The Brewers were 16-27 entering the game. Their pitching is horrid and their fielders are auditioning for spots in the World Cup.

This loss means that five times this season the Twins have won the first two games of a series against a weak opponent, then lost when given a chance to complete the sweep. Four times, that has happened on a Sunday afternoon. Five times, that has happened during a day game.

The starting pitcher on this Sunday, Carl Pavano, referred earlier this season to a lack of energy among his teammates in such games. Sunday he suffered a loss because his teammates were ineffective, but he was diplomatic afterward.

"I think today was good," he said. "I think early in the season you're trying to catch up to yourself a little bit; you're not used to the night-day schedule after coming through spring training. We were getting acclimated to the weather and the different elements.

"I liked what I saw today. I beat us with those two homers -- that was definitely the deciding factor."

While blaming himself for the loss is good form, I disagree. When you face Estrada, Parra, Braddock and Hoffman in the first eight innings, you should be leading by 12 runs by the time your starting pitcher leaves the game.

"You win two out of three, that's OK, but we had plenty of opportunities today," Gardenhire said. "That's a disappointing loss."

The Twins have played in a Game 163 the past two seasons. They spent this spring talking about valuing each game, understanding that a loss in April or May could determine whether they win the division in September.

Every team forms its own personality. What we've seen so far from the 2010 Twins is competent starting pitching, a lineup that is deep when healthy, highly professional fielding, a shallow bullpen, exceptional performances from their two stars ... and an inability to press their advantage when they have a team down.

On April 11, the Twins lost to the White Sox 5-4 on a Sunday when they had a chance to sweep. On April 18, they lost 10-5 in a home game against Kansas City with a chance to sweep.

On April 22, they lost 8-1 to Cleveland at home with a chance to sweep. On April 25, they lost 4-3 to Kansas City at home with a chance to sweep. And on this Sunday, they lost to the woeful Brewers and their potpourri pitching staff, 4-3.

The Twins are a talented team with a distinct home-field advantage, a hefty payroll, big-name stars and a history of squandering games early in the season that cost them in October.

This team shouldn't be blowing chances to sweep weak teams, shouldn't ever have to look back with regret at games lost to the likes of Marco Estrada and Manny Parra.

Jim Souhan can be heard at 10-noon Sunday on AM-1500. His Twitter name is SouhanStrib. jsouhan@startribune.com