Nothing fancy here. Just a simple declarative statement:
Terry Ryan, get off your pitching prospects.
I spoke with the Twins GM last week about what he would be willing to part with in order to improve the offense. Ryan acknowledged that he has several good pitching prospects in the minors but said, "I'd be hesitant to give up too much pitching."
Regardless if it's to make a playoff run this year or to build for next season, the offensive holes in left field (29th in the majors in on-base percentage), third base (last in slugging percentage) and designated hitter (the Brewers have as many homers -- three -- from their DH in nine interleague games as the Twins have all season) must be addressed.
If that means a package that includes a pitching prospect, philosophies should be altered.
Righthanders Scott Baker, Boof Bonser and Matt Garza currently are helping the major league team. Lefthander Glen Perkins is fighting through a strained muscle near his shoulder, but his status as a top prospect remains unchanged.
Righthander Kevin Slowey received his baptism earlier this season and is making adjustments at Class AAA Rochester. Righthander Nick Blackburn, currently on the DL at Rochester, is 6-1 with a 2.09 ERA.
I'm not done.
Lefthander Brian Duensing, drafted out of Nebraska in 2005, is 6-2 with a 3.28 ERA at Rochester. "I'm hearing he's the real deal," a member of the Twins coaching staff told me Thursday.
Lefthander Ryan Mullins, another 2005 pick, was roughed up in his Class AAA debut this week but tore through Class A Fort Myers and Class AA New Britain this year.
Oh, I forgot to mention lefthander Francisco Liriano, who, by all accounts, is making steady progress during his rehab after Tommy John surgery and is on track to help the club next season.
That's nine starting pitchers 25 and under either in the majors or at Rochester. At no other time in my 10 years covering Twins baseball has the organization had so many high-quality starting pitching prospects. And there are more in the lower levels. Righthanders Oswaldo Sosa and Johan Pino have just been promoted to New Britain. Righthander Jeff Manship was unhittable at Class A Beloit and more human at Class A Fort Myers, but he is thought of highly. Pat your scouts on the back for a job well done, Terry, and tell them to keep it coming. Tell them to duplicate 2005 when Garza, Slowey, Duensing and Mullins were taken in the first three rounds because you might need to deal a couple of pitchers to get better now.
The Twins are still in a battle to make the playoffs. You can argue that winning the AL Central is unrealistic, but there's still the wild-card spot. You can't totally concede the playoffs in July when the Twins have risen from the ashes before. The starting pitching has responded, but the lineup is shorthanded. The No. 7, 8 and 9 spots in the order have been potholes. Now Michael Cuddyer is injured.
Offensive consistency has been a seasonlong problem, and the Twins have waited longer than they should have to add a hitter. Frankly, they might have waited too long.
So get off your pitching prospects, Terry. These problems aren't going away, and you don't like spending big on free agents.
Of course, a few more losses over the next week and you might need to move some major leaguers, too.
lneal@startribune.com
twins/mlb
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