We've Seen This Before

Let me start by apologizing to my loyal fans, all six of them for not posting since the NFL Draft. I know that all of you were pining for a new post for several weeks now. Gotta let the big dogs eat, here you go. 


Our beloved Minnesota Twins have been on quite a roll this month. The team rattled off 15 wins while losing only 3 to start the month but have found themselves in a 6-game losing skid. For a while, it seemed all too familiar. The Twins stayed dormant for the first two months of the season and when June hit, they started to play some ball. All the while in the midst of a Minnesota hot streak it seemed that Cleveland, Detroit and Chicago were doing all they could to keep Minnesota in the hunt. Winning the division was definitely a possibility. 


But interleague play has not been so kind. After sweeping San Diego in 3 dramatic games and winning the first in San Francisco, the team has lost the last 6, including a sweep in Milwaukee and getting flat-out embarrassed at home in the first of the series against the Dodgers. This is all after Joe Mauer's much anticipated return from the disabled list. 


This leaves the Twins in a little bit of a predicament. With 33 days until the MLB trade deadline, the Twins have some decisions to make with some of their premier players. Michael Cuddyer and pitcher Francisco Liriano are both in the final year on their contract with the Twins and both could draw interest from several different contenders.


Now the Twins sit 10 games back out of first place in the Central with the most home games in the majors coming up. 20 of 24 games are at the comfy confines of Target field with their only road trip is going to the south side of Chicago to play a very beatable White Sox team. If the Twins can change things around in the next few weeks and rattle off another win streak or two the Twins could become buyers at the deadline, looking to add another piece to make a long run. If they can't take advantage of the lengthy homestand, the Twins must look to add pieces for the future. 


Currently, Joe Mauer is taking reps at first base (about time! Ive been saying this since Morneau went down, but that is neither here nor there). Perhaps the Twins could look to add a young backstop like Jesus Montero from New York at the deadline. Regardless of what they would look for at the deadline, if they decide they aren't buyers, they have to look to add talent to a arguably weak minor league system. Besides a few good pieces, most pro scouts don't grade the Twins minor leaguers as more than role players and middle of the rotation guys. 


I'm not petitioning for the team to blow it up and start fresh, but I'm saying it can't be out of the question. I can't help but remember the remarkable run in 2006, storming back to win the division on the last game of the season, but as exciting as it was it was even more unlikely. 


The division is still up for grabs. The Twins can climb back, but they have to do so sooner than later.