The 2010 Minnesota Twins season has been as frustrating as any in recent Twins history. Never have expectations been as high as they are this year. The team entered a new stadium in Target Field. With the new stadium came increased revenues. With the increased revenues, the team went out and spent a ton of money to acquire the types of players that Twins fans wanted. During spring training, the team said all the right things. This team was different. They were no longer "just trying to win the division."
So naturally expectations among fans and bloggers were sky high. The team went 15-8 in April and 16-12 in May.
Since then, the team has gone just 18-24. Injuries have certainly played a part. Justin Morneau's injury is worrisome. Orlando Hudson and JJ Hardy each spent significant time on the Disabled List which certainly affected the lineup and the team's defense.
As Scott Baker walked off the field last night, having given up five runs (another would score later) on ten hits and three walks, I was almost surprised (pleasantly) that there were a bunch of well-deserved boos heard throughout the crowd. Twins fans have grown impatient, despite the fact that the Twins are essentially where they were a year ago (and several previous years). We were told that this year would be different. I think fans assumed, fair or not, that this talented roster would not lose as many games to teams they shouldn't, and they wouldn't have so many brain cramps on the field. This team is in contention, but we all thought (not so wisely) that the AL Central would be wrapped up by the July trade deadline.
So, who is to blame for the Twins struggles?
Some want to blame the Twins front office. To those, I would say that the front office stepped up in the offseason and increased the payroll to about $95 million. The team needed and wanted a middle infielder and a second-place hitter. They acquired JJ Hardy and Orlando Hudson, and when healthy those two provide very strong defense up the middle. When Jim Thome became available at $1.5 million, they jumped at the opportunity, and he has been more than they were hoping for.
Some want to blame the manager. I can't say that I 100% agree with every decision that the manager makes. Ozzie Guillen is getting credit for continuing to show patience in Gordon Beckham, who is on a tear. Ron Gardenhire has shown tremendous patience with his starting pitchers, guys who have had a lot of success in the past. He has been stuck with a short bench. Sure, you can rightly argue that Delmon Young should not be hitting 7th or 8th in the lineup. The Michael Cuddyer at 3B experience was a mess. Joe Mauer has returned to being a great #2 hitter option. I believe that continuity is a good thing and has contributed to the Twins success in the last decade. I believe that few changes should be made in the season's first two to three months. But now we are in late July, so it's time to believe in the numbers and do whatever is best for the team now.
There is the old cliche that you can't fire all 25 players, so the manager gets fired. Well, I don't think firing is necessary, but I do believe that the players deserve a very large percentage of the blame. When Scott Baker, Nick Blackburn or Kevin Slowey leave pitches right down the middle of the plate over and over again, my assumption is Gardenhire or pitching coach Rick Anderson didn't coach them or instruct them to throw it there. When any of the Twins hitters ground into double plays, is that what Joe Vavra and Gardy want them to do? I'm guessing not. When Joe Mauer backhands balls in the dirt for wild pitches, I'm assuming that's not how he is coached since Drew Butera does it more fundamentally sound. When Denard Span gets picked off of first base time and again, I'm assuming that Jerry White, who was a great base stealer in his brief playing days, is coaching him base running properly. I'm guessing that Rick Stelmaszek isn't telling the bullpen pitchers, as they leave the bullpen to enter the game, to go out there and allow inherited runners to score.
