Twinkies: They're What's For Breakfast

[Guest Rotblatt]

Beloved by Geminis everywhere, the Minnesota Twins have relied on superior scouting and player development to turn themselves into a perennial playoff contender. While one's eye is immediately drawn to their home-grown superstars, Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Johann Sanatana & Torii Hunter, the Twinkies have almost always found their role players from within, getting league-average offensive production over the years from the likes of Mike Cuddyer, Corey Koskie, Lew Ford, Doug Mientkiewicz, AJ Pierzynski . . . And below-league average production from an even larger list. A high-powered offense is not a hallmark of these Twins, but what they lack in power, they make up for in solid defense, a killer bullpen, and Johann Santana.

Unlike their similarly financially challenged-yet-successful counterparts, the Oakland A's, the Twins focus on old skool baseball fundamentals, like fielding, bunting, hitting-and-running, and going the other way--an ideology that, despite its successes, also cost them the preeminent slugger in baseball, David Ortiz, whom they viewed as expendable based on his inability to perform the above.

This year, the Twins have been mediocre at 34-33, hindered by Mauer's inability to stay healthy, substandard role players like little 3B Nick Punto (.621 OPS) and SS Jason Bartlett (.630 OPS), and the back-end of the rotation in the form of Sidney Ponson (7 starts, 6.93 ERA), Ramon Ortiz (14 starts, 5.71 ERA), and Scott Baker (5 starts, 7.33 ERA).

On the bright side, their bullpen has been nothing short of stellar, with Pat Neshek (32.7 IP, 1.10 ERA, 0.73 WHIP), Matt Guerrier (41.3 IP, 1.52 ERA, 0.85 WHIP), and Joe Nathan (29.3 IP, 2.45 ERA, 1.40 WHIP) leading the way. Hunter's having a career year (.914 OPS), Morneau's doing his thing (.923 OPS), and RF Michael Cuddyer's continuing his solid play from last year (.847 OPS). With Mauer back, and the possible influx of RHP prospect Matt Garza into the rotation, and, of couse, the inevitable second-half surge by reigning Cy Young winner Johann Santana, the Twins could still take the AL Central.

But first, of course, they have to get through us.

All games at 7:10 p.m. EDT

Tonight
Carlos Silva v. John Maine

Silva has turned things around this year after a miserable 2006, putting up solid numbers: 79.7 IP, 4.07 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 32 K, 18 BB, and he's coming off a complete-game shutout of the Braves. Only two current Mets have more than 3 plate appearances against him, Ruben Gotay (2-6, both singles) and Jose Valentin (6-18, including 3 dingers. 1.257 OPS).

No Twin has faced Maine more than 3 times.

Tomorrow

Santana v. Sosa

Gulp. But bizarrely enough, facing Santana might help out our two coldest hitters. Beltran: 22 AB, 2 HR, 7 BB, 1.039 OPS. Delgado: 4-10 (all doubles), 1 BB, 1.217 OPS. Santana owns Valentin (1-19, 9 K), and Easley is even worse (0-5).

The Twins have had only limited at bats against Sosa, and they haven't fared well--they're batting .149 against him as a team, with 3 walks & only 1 extra base hit in 30 PA.

Wednesday

Baker v. Perez

Baker's never faced a current Met, and Perez hasn't seen many Twins. Only Castillo has a real track record--5-14 with 2 walks and an .866 OPS.

[metirish]

I think Gary Cohen said the other night that 20 of the Twins 25 man roster is home- grown,under normal circumstances I would be looking forward to seeing Santana pitch tomorrow night.

[seawolf17]

It'll be fun to see Pat Neshek, who is both a baseball card collector and an active blogger.

Plus, he's got a cool sidewinding motion:

[Frayed Knot]

Whoa, check out those killer WHiPs in the pen! Whoda thunk the high one would belong to (SUNY Stonybrook's) Nathan.

Odd AL team in that they don't rely on one mostly full-time DH. Four guys have DH'd at least 10 times (Cirillo, Redman, Kubel, & Tyner!) yet no one player has been used as many as 15 times, so it's not like playing at an NL park is going to sit one big guy's ass on the bench and punch a gaping hole in their lineup.

Mauer's been back about a week now after missing a month.

[Guest Mr. Zero]

Was in the Metrodome over the weekend, watching the Twins get trounced by the Brewers. Felt like I was watching a baseball inside of a blimp. A blimp filled with Saran Wrap that is. Saran Wrap and polite underage drinkers.

[Guest iramets]

I saw Santana kick Met butt on my birthday, musta been four, five years ago, before I knew who he was.

[nymr83]

]Santana owns Valentin (1-19, 9 K), and Easley is even worse (0-5).

i'd rather be Easley there, Valentin has a large enough sample size and a pile of K's to worry me. Easley just has an 0-5 night.

[Guest OlerudOwned]

I hope Neshek and Smith get to pitch in the same game.

[Gwreck]

iramets wrote: I saw Santana kick Met butt on my birthday, musta been four, five years ago, before I knew who he was.

I was there too. 5 years ago.

Happy Birthday Ira.