Good morning from Target Field

Good morning from Target Field.

The Twins have played pretty poorly this week. If the Red Sox hadn't played like the Bad News Bears on Thursday, the Twins would be looking at negative trend right after they took first place in the AL Central.

To me, June might be the most important month of the season for the locals. They survived their horrid first week of the season. They played surprisingly well the remainder of April. They played like the best team in baseball for May.

Now they've lost four of their last six, and face the prospect of getting swept at home by a bad Brewers team today.

There are times during a 162-game season to surge, and there are times to hold on. It's time for this team to hold on.

Thinking the Twins, with a flawed roster and shallow lineup, would continue to win 70 percent of their games was unrealistic. By July, they could have the services of Ervin Santana, Kennys Vargas, Oswaldo Arcia, Byron Buxton, Miguel Sano, Josmil Pinto, maybe even Jose Berrios. This will be the toughest month - trying to hold on with picked-out-of-a-hat fifth-place hitters and a tired bullpen.

This is survival time for an overachieving team.

Wrote about American Pharoah from Canterbury Park yesterday. I don't spend much time at the track, but every time I go out there I'm reminded of how enthusiastic and helpful all of the employees and patrons are. I was also reminded that Paul Allen, Voice of the Vikings, is an exceptional race announcer.

Here's my column from Canterbury:

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Started a new podcast, under the umbrella title MalePatternPodcasts. The plan is to do one a week featuring a lengthy interview with a local sports figure, one a week with Strib hockey writer Michael Russo and one a week with Viking Update owner Tim Yotter.

Here's the first one with Mr. Yotter, on Adrian Peterson, MIke Zimmer and our first Predictions are Stupid segment: goo.gl/wdZVit

Thanks for reading and listening.