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Yuck, yuck, yuck. On what originally was an off-day when the season began, the Twins hosted the Mets for a make-up game after snow covered Target Field back in early April. A day after going just 2-18 with runners in scoring position dropping a series to the lowly White Sox. The lackluster weekend carried over into the Monday blues for the Twins as the offense went just 0-10 with runners in scoring postion. As the great Rip Torn or Patches O'houlihan said in dodgeball; "You couldn't hit water if ya fell out of boat" Well maybe a Rip Torn pep talk is what this team needs because this is the most embarrassing, sad sack of a lineup (minus you of course Baby Jesus) we have ever seen.Their is six players in this order that bat under .250 (with Dozier being the only one that gets an exemption for that). No one on this team is projected to finish with over 20 home-runs. We don't have a single pitcher with 10 wins yet, and though we are projected to finish better 70 wins (a four win improvement from last year) This team has to be the most painful one to watch.
Granted the Twins were shut down by a very, very good pitcher lately in Dillon Gordon. But the Twins had their chances, they had the lead-off man on in the bottom of the 2nd and 3rd and neither were even moved over. Justin Morneau ripped his 30th double of the season with one-out in the 4th, but a beautiful Ryan Doumit strike out and a free swinging Oswaldo Arcia popped up leaving Morneau stranded. In the sixth Dozzy-baby and Baby Jesus led off with back-back singles, and even though 'Hammer flew out to left, it was deep enough to move Dozier 90 feet away. However Morneau grounded into the patent Twins-ending double play killing Kendrick Lamar and everyone else at Target Fields vibe. For god-sakes, the only scoring came when Trevor Plouffe roped a double (the first time ALL season Plouffe has doubled in back-back games... Its true look it up) and thanks to an error from Daniel Murphy on a routine grounder to 2nd off the bat of Clete Thomas made it a 5-1 game, but that was it. The Mets would get one more in the 9th making it 6-1 for good.
Kyle Gibson was not much better today, after a run in the 1st and 2nd inning and two more in the 4th he was charged lasting 3.2 before being yanked for Anthony Swarzak. His nice-fat ol' whip of 1.75 has prompted him back to Rochester. After a solid debut against the Royals, Gibson has been abysmal. As former Twinkie-Towner contributor and now with 1500-ESPN Brandon Warne put it..
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>This is Kyle Gibson having his "Scott Baker 2006" right now.</p>— Brandon Warne (@Brandon_Warne) <a href="https://twitter.com/Brandon_Warne/statuses/369543579204456448">August 19, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Lets hope that's true I guess, maybe a bit more of upside but regardless Gibson was sent down after the game and now the question is; who take Gibby's spot in the rotation? Liam Hendricks and Scott Diamond are probably the likeable guys to replace him. I'd like to throw ya a curve ball here and say they'll throw Anthony Swarzak in place of him. Swarzak has been terrific in the long relief/swingman role. And if we know Gardy, he does not like to tinker with his bullpen. He goes to the same guys in every sticky situation and I don't know if he would be willing to part with his favorite-rock in Anthony Swarzak.
Studs:
(Sigh...) Trevor Plouffe
Brian Duensing?
Duds:
Kyle Gibson
The Twins in general